I was Made to Run

Cruising toward the finish line in the Chardonnay 10 Miler

I run. I run a lot. Get this . . . I actually like running. You could even say I love running. Often when I’m out running, I have this moment of total clarity – an epiphany of sorts. In these moments I absolutely know one thing for sure:

I was made to run!

I just feel right when I’m running – like I’m more alive, more in touch with myself and nature. Now, let me say right here, it wasn’t always that way. When I was a teenager, I ran track and cross country and pretty much hated it, but my dad was my coach and a car was my reward, so I ran.

Then when I got older I ran so I wouldn’t be a fat slob. Then I ran so I could “eat whatever I wanted.” (I got over that stupid idea later on. Found out that eating healthy is the better way to go.) Then I ran so I would enjoy my soccer games more. There’s nothing worse than losing or playing terribly because you were sucking wind. Then, when my boys were teenagers, I ran to clear my head, enjoy my world, keep from going crazy, and have some quiet time.

Now I look forward to my runs more than ever before. I run to enjoy myself. I run as a part of my fitness. I run to be out in my wonderful world. I run to celebrate my abilities. I love knowing that I was made to run. It’s my thing. Now that doesn’t mean I’m an elite runner. Nope, not even close.

I’ve never won a race, never even won my age group. I accidentally placed second once, but I didn’t even know it was a “real” race. I’m not fast – never have been. But I’m still made to run.

This last weekend I ran the Santa Barbara Chardonnay 10 Miler and I set a PR. That’s runner-slang for Personal Record. Well, I’ve never run a 10 mile race before, so it was going to be a PR no matter what. But I actually ran my best 10 miles ever – better than any training run. I felt perfect – no aches, no pains, no fatigue. And I ran my fastest 10 miles ever. I finished in 1:23:45. That was about 7 minutes faster than I was hoping for. I know I wasn’t doing anything spectacular by running 8 minute 23 second miles, but for me, it was mind-blowing.

It feels great to run, to love running, to feel my body in motion. And to do all that and end up with a PR, well, that’s like icing on the cake. It all started with my marathon training runs. I started feeling ultra-mindful, peaceful and in rhythm with my body. Running became like a dance, or a meditation. Not a fight anymore, just flowing with my body. Then I started practicing the ideas in ChiRunning, and kabaam! I’m running faster and better and loving it even more.