Loved 'Em Every One!

Do you love running? I do.

The very flexible TG Sheppard

Short. Far. Fast. Slow.  "Big, Little, or Short, or Tall", as my man T. G. Sheppard would say!  T. G. Sheppard, huh, sometimes I think to myself "I vonda whatever happened to that guy?"  And then I think, "Wow, I really spend too much time thinking about '80s country music singers." (Once again, I understand that most of my readers have no friggin' idea who this guy is)

... back to running - I really do love it!  Lately I've missed two PR's in two consecutive races that I was pretty sure were gonna happen.  You might think that Mr. Over-Competitive 50 after 40 is really down about it ... but you couldn't be more wronger!

Sure, I always to get better, faster, and stronger as a runner.  But running has given me so many things that I am so thankful for ... and none of them include personal records!

1.  It's given me great health!  I'm 42, and I don't think I've ever been in better shape.  I feel awesome most of the time, and I have tons of energy!  I couldn't ask for better health at this phase of my life.

2011 KC Royals 5K

2.  I've had the opportunity to spend more time with my family through running!  I've been able to run a lot with my wife and daughter, and even paced them in a couple of races ... I wouldn't trade that for anything!

3.  I've met some wonderful people!  The blog world has been unbelievably supportive, and I've also met a few runners in real life!  It's always awesome to meet up with people who share a similar passion and really "get" what's going on with you.

4.  Almost more than anything, it's teaching me patience.  A distance runner soon learns that it's a grind - not a sprint.  I know that I can outlast almost almost anything ... through an injury, a race, or more importantly - life.

5. And like I've said before, through running I've learned that "if I can just make it up this hill, it gets a little easier on the other side!"  So true with so many things in my life.

So as I sit here with sore legs a few days after my latest marathon where I tried to act like an 18 year old kid and run as fast as I could, I ask myself, "Was it worth it?"  And the answer is yes!  Because whether it's a race, a speed workout, a social run with my family, or just a light slow run on a beautiful fall  morning ... I love every one of them!  And I am so blessed to have the opportunity to do what I do, even if I never PR again ... but I promise you I'll probably keep trying - ha!
... be great today!