It's the Journey

The completion of my first half-marathon last fall is an achievement for which I am extremely proud. But from the moment I crossed the finish line, I have been positively stumped in determining the next goal for me and my running.

Unless someone is just incredibly gifted genetically, anyone that has trained for a half-marathon will attest to the time commitment one must make to get there, supported by organization, discipline, a goal and a plan. And sometimes the plan can appear so daunting, just getting started can be a challenge.

It is bad enough that we just wrapped up the winter-that-never-ends (here in Ottawa), during which time I did not see a sidewalk in what seemed like forever, so I hibernated in my cocoon of pillows and blankets while clearing the PVR or watching Netflix. Then the guilt of not running set in.

But with spring’s recent arrival, I got my first run of the season out of the way a few days ago (better late than never, I guess) and I was pleasantly surprised. The full routine of stretching I started doing in recent weeks, in anticipation of that first run, really helped as nothing hurt for this first 2 ½ km run, but clearly cardio capacity needs to be rebuilt.

I was happy to be out there, finally out in the fresh air and sunshine, already in shorts and t-shirt, bypassing the running jacket and running pants due to my late start. It was a wonderful day, but throughout the run I kept asking myself the question I had been asking myself since last fall: what is my goal?

Throughout my running life, I always had that one race ahead of me, or a tangible goal whether it was to run a longer distance, to beat my personal best time or to recover from an injury in time for the next big race. Running without a set goal seemed foreign to me.

Even among my group of friends who are runners, the goal always seemed to serve as an ice breaker in conversations: “What are your plans for your next race?” Or if someone was sidelined by injury, “When do you hope to be back in training for that next race?” Or travel-loving runners talking about the next destination race and figuring out the logistics of accommodations, meal planning and the completion of their pre-run rituals.

Without a doubt, running races is a big part of the process and helps many of us remain focused and on-target for a distance or a time, but at the moment, I do not foresee training for another half-marathon, at least not this year. It is a huge time commitment, not only for running itself, but in stretching at every opportunity I could get, engaging in a variety of cross-training activities, eating the right foods, ensuring I got the right amount of sleep, and taking plenty of Epsom salts baths to take the edge off the intense training. But would I do it again? I probably would. Just maybe not this year.

Should I train for a shorter distance, a 5K or 10K race? That would be far more realistic, but I have been in a bit of an introverted mood these days and the “first-world problems” of running do not entirely appeal to me at this particular moment: The prospect of driving downtown in heavy traffic on race day; competing for parking spots; accepting that I will be running in whatever weather will be delivered that day; and running behind certain etiquette-lacking novice runners who suddenly stop to take a selfie or a phone call with no advance notice. I think mentally, I am still in my pillow fort on the couch.

What I learned from my intense training last year is that I genuinely love the sport. I found my sweet spot in the 10 to 12 km distance, a run I can complete in about an hour, depending on the day. At that distance, I feel challenged, but not to the point of bleeding nipples or losing toenails. At that distance, I can carry just enough water without having to plan the logistics of filling my water bottle or finding a strategically placed tree or bush for bladder management purposes. At 10 to 12 km, I get a little hungry along the way, but not to the point that I have to carry a snack with me. As long as I have food waiting for me at the finish line, I will be fine.

Last year’s training taught me a lot about how my body reacts to running, and when running crosses over from fun to “work”. Perhaps that is the goal this year, running without a goal and for the pure fun of it. If I can be disciplined enough to post a weekly blog for the fun of it, why can’t I do that with my running too?

I love the rituals of running; I love the fresh air and sunshine; I love the sensation of the running motion to my favourite playlists; I love the energy that my favourite playlists provide; I love the solitude of being alone with my thoughts for an hour that is truly my own; I also love the health benefits and the fact that with consistent running, my clothes fit better.

I loved to hear the birds singing, seemingly cheering my arrival at the finish line at my favourite park, and the peace and serenity of watching the sailboats go by while I cool down and stretch. There are plenty of incentives to enjoying a great run.

It sounds perfect and so many of my weekend runs last year were just that… perfect! Could I recapture the magic of last year’s runs without a set goal? The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of not having that pressure or the stress generated by a late start, an injury, getting sidetracked by the office or a prolonged period of bad weather.

I believe the answer was right in front of me: to be out there because I want to be, not because I have to be, and to savour every moment, every sight, every sound and every sensation, without pressure.

Is that not what enjoying a sport is all about?

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Have a great day,
André