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Nov
18
The first mile is always the hardest, it’s like my body isn’t quite sure what’s going on and my muscles are all a little too stiff and my pace feels janky and I feel stupidly self-concious and focused on tugging at my clothes since everything seems to be heading towards an unflattering, uncomfortable location.
Then at some point my core tightens and I sort of lift up and re-arrange myself. My shoulders pull back, my arms move smoothly, my legs feel strong and good. I find a rhythm and work within it. My breath made of steady deep breaths: I leave uniform plumes of cold-air smoke. Music is playing in my ears and I am thinking of nothing and everything. I am in a powerful current that’s moving through me and I am moving through it and the world is flashing by like some great colorful swirl and my heart is straining at my chest with pure joy.
And . . . then there’s a hill or a side cramp or a growing ache in my knees or ankles or I simply for whatever reason fall out of that wonderful pocket and once again become all too aware of my pounding feet, the distance I’ve still got to go, the fact that my stupid waistband won’t stay put and my ponytail’s coming undone.
I think everyone can agree running feels good when you’re done, but I never really believed that it could feel good while you’re doing it. Now I know: it can. Even if it’s only for a short while, between the awkward warmup and the tired ending. Man, I wish I could bottle it and pour you a glass.
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31 Responses to “Cheers”
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The more you run, the more you learn to prolong the runner’s high. It’s hard to describe the beauty of it. I ran before getting pregnant. Had to take a year off due to bed rest and twins and the first run afterwards, ran 5 miles high the entire time. Could also have been the sleep deprivation.
Did you read that article in the NYT about how exercise cures anxiety? Something about causing new cells to grow in the brain or something. Anyway, I love your writing about exercise.
Some days are great and other are not. That is my motto. Some times I feel like I could run for miles and miles without stopping and no complaints. And other days… mmm not so much.
I love that feeling too. And just think – it also cancels out some of your “reasons not to run…” on the decision tree post!
(love your blog, btw)
I started running last spring for weight loss and by summer, was doing it pretty reguarly (though I’ve been slack lately). My first four minutes are always the worst. I wonder why I even do it. But 8 minutes in? I remember why.
I heard about that magical pocket, but I never felt it in a year of running. (And then my knees gave out completely.) I am jealous.
And then occasionally, and by occasionally, I mean once every… two or three months? You will have this spectacular run, where you only stop because it’s dark or you have to be home or you’re going to be late, and it feels phenomenal. You feel like you could just run and run and run forever, and it’s the most amazing feeling in the entire world. But you can never predict when it will happen. It’s THE BEST.
Have been running for the past 5 years but had an injury in August that made me stop for a while. I am back at it recently, and the suck is slowly giving way to the JOY moments.For me it also combats the “wanting to pour a glass”.Great post .
I’ve been running steadily since I was 13. And I’ve run a lot having completed two Ironman races. Rarely is it smooth right out of the gate. Sometimes 1/2 mile, sometimes a whole mile. But it always smooths out and I always feel better at the finish than I did before leaving the house.
I tell beginner runners not to quit before it feels good. I think that’s what happens to folks, they don’t realise that it will feel better and they quit.
Totally. There are runs where I just seem to sail through them. And runs where it is all I can do to just finish.
You people are making me want to go running.
I wish you could bottle it up for me, too! I just can’t get motivated to start a workout/running program and stick with it. Could have something to do with a full-time job, full-time school, three kids (11,5,16-months)with extracurricular activities and school and a husband who travels for his job. I know, excuses. But I’m cutting myself some slack until I graduate in February.
I have been running for about 4 months. I am up to about 4 miles a day. It amazes me how on some days, it is just exactly how you describe: I am an awkward, uncoordinated mess…then on other days, everything clicks, and I am a runner!
I wish I could read a running post from you EVERY day. I follow your training posts on Bodies and they ROCK. I’m a “wannabe” runner… struggled thru a 5K and LOVED it but somehow haven’t been able to drag my ass out of bed in the mornings to run… at all. I read your posts just hoping that one of these days I’ll actually get up and put on the pile of running clothes that I (optimistically) continue to set out at night.
I’m so proud of you and I don’t even know ya!!! Keep it coming.
You said it, lady. Most of the time it sucks and I don’t like running (until after I’m done-then I feel great) but then there are days where I feel like there are wings on my feet and I’m on the verge of flight. Those days make every blister, shorts bunch, and stitch in my side totally worth it.
I wish you could, too. Pour me a glass.
My one thing about running is that I’m worried about the toll it takes on a body and its joints. But I can run; strangely, out of all the things I’m NOT good at in the athletic realm (and it’s a LOT, besides hauling off and smashing a mean tennis serve), I can run.
Willikat: you should read “Born to Run”. Really eye-opening about our bodies’ natural running abilities and how it’s possible typical strain/injuries are caused by fancy expensive uber-cushioned SHOES (!).
you make me want to run… and lose the 10 lbs of baby weight I just put on plus the other 10 I’ve put on since the end of college. thanks for the poetic description of the torture/bliss that is working out. I am actually ITCHING to go run right now, even though my baby is sleeping and it is 10 at night.
Started running -again- yesterday…it felt just like you say…can still feel the HIGH…Thank you for reminding me :)
I’m still waiting for that comfortable part of the run. I’m infinitely stuck in the Tugging At The Clothes Awkward Warm-up part. Of course, if I could get my butt out there more than once or twice a week, that would probably help. heh
You’ve summed up the beginning absolutely perfectly. While I was reading, I was nodding and saying, “Yes, that’s it exactly.” As for the comfortable part, maybe for one minute or two. Hopefully if I keep at it, that part will start getting a little longer. And yes, it feels so good afterward!
You are making me want to run.
I am running my second half marathon this weekend, and I wanted to say: YES, EXACTLY.
I’m no runner, but you have inspired me to get my butt to the gym – for the past three weeks I’ve been 4 times a week – I rearranged my schedule so I can sneek in a workout between daycare dropoff and work in the morning. For now I’m focusing on heart rate and overall health improvement. Maybe running in the future, but for now I stand taller for my efforts, and I’d like to say thank you to you for being part of my inspiration – being a working mom is no excuse to not take care of myself too.
Is it not wonderful? Back in the days when I would get up super early to run, my mind would literally wake up after the first mile and I would look around outside and be all, huh…I am on a run! Weird. It is so inspiring to read how your running journey is going…keep up the good work. And don’t worry, you’re not going to crap your pants during the half.
Started running with Couch to 5K last spring and quit running by July 4th due to injury. Back at it for the last two months, slowly but surely, and finding the high again. Your writing inspires me to look at my awkward start with some hope and confidence that it’ll get better. Like Dory says…just keep swimming…or running! :)
thanks for the book recommendation in your comments – i’ve been forced out of running due to injury and am trying to get my hands on anything and everything that can get me over it and back in. i miss that feeling. a lot.
yes! yesterday I ran 4 miles and was like “wha? over so soon?” and really felt, if not for my husband needing to go to work and me needing to care for the kid, i could have run for HOURS, but today, oh today it took everything in me to get through 3miles. I only felt “really good” for about a half mile. I’m sort of finding, for myself, that the run after a rest day is one of those euphoric runs, and my long distance runs – after the first 1-1.5miles feel that way too. it’s the daily, maintaining 3mi runs that I seem to be trudging through and not really “enjoying”. maybe a change of scenery would help with that…
anyhow – yeah, figure out a way to bottle that shit. I’d pay a small fortune for it. I could use a little runner’s high right about now!
I’ve never been able to find that happy place while running. The whole thing is one long complaint from every part of my body.
Hey! Thanks! I will definitely check that out.
Hear hear! I wholeheartedly agree. I just hate the fact that there’s no rhyme or reason whether today is going to be a Good Run or a Bad Run…although a run is a Run, right?!