Impulse

Last fall, Steve and I went on a run to discover a new trail somewhere off the highway. We took the dog and hopped over roots and puddles. We don’t usually run together, except on trails. The relaxed feeling that is present in the woods lets us slow down, not worry about pace or distance and just enjoy each other.

At one point, we stumbled on a big, beautiful lake. We should come back for a swim next time! we said to each other. We continued on our run, eventually turning around and heading back out of the trail. We stopped again at the lake to throw some sticks for the dog.

Let’s do it, let’s just swim today! I said to Steve. But we don’t have suits, but what if someone comes, but, but, but… we both thought. And then we stripped down to our skivvies and hopped in.

Two weeks later, Steve was bumped up on the waiting list to have shoulder surgery and was in a sling for six weeks. We haven’t been back to that trail since.

* * * * * * * *

One of the things that I get really obsessive about when I start training for a specific race is my running schedule. I have pace per run goals and average pace goals and kilometres per week goals and spreadsheets outlining my running schedule and my weight training schedule and by the time the race rolls around I’m so sick of all my spreadsheets and anal-retentiveness that I look at the people who are at a race to enjoy the experience and wonder if I’ve maybe missed out on a key aspect of the whole experience.

While I do believe that in order to achieve personal bests (and honestly, every race I run, I run for a PB) you need to focus on pace and speed and km/week and maybe it’s even a good idea to write your training program out (or at least follow one that’s been written by someone else). On the other hand, it’s never the run when you’re obsessively checking your average pace that you get that…. feeling. That feeling of being free, of being strong, of being beautiful.

We don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s why life can be a huge bitch and an amazing chain of beautiful events at the same time.

Maybe obsessing about every run is a waste of energy. Maybe marathons should be all about the experience. That’s not to say I won’t be shooting for a PB in Montreal this fall, but maybe I’ll try to relax a little along the way.