I was looking back through some old images and files and came across a doc that had a fill in the blank type question… the answer that I put was
Running is worth the possibility of never perfecting it.
At the time, I’m sure I knew what I meant. It sounds so “prophetic.” Like it needs to be on a shirt or hoodie. Or something that you overhear one runner say to another runner at a coffee shop post-run. I keep reading it. At times I fully understand it. Other times, I think: “Does that even make any sense? Is it even grammatically correct… or am I missing a word?”
I know what I’m trying to say.
It makes so much sense in my head:
Yes, run. Run all the miles. Run them fast. Run them slow. Run them backwards. Do it wrong. Do it with friends. Do it in the rain. Better yet, in the snow… in shorts. Laugh at how terrible you are at it, then high-five someone because you just kicked 20 miles in the face. Then smile at someone who wonders why you are all sweaty and laughing at 8 in the morning with a head lamp on. Then do it again the next day.
You may never get it right. You may never run that perfect race or any race. You might not reach that magical number of miles in a week, or month, or year, but running is worth it.
That’s what I was trying to say on form back in 2012.
* * * * *
Ends March 10
Giveaway for $150 to spend on ASICS gear
March 23:
10% off Oakland Running Festival (Full, Half, 5k): PAVERUNNER
March 29:
$10 off Livermore Half Marathon: PRFAN
April 6:
$10 off San Francisco Rock ‘n’ Roll Half: HITTHEPAVEMENT
Always:
40% off at PRO Compression: PR40
* * * * *
Running is… what?
If you are a runner, you get it. Just like all the meanings you listed, runners know.
yes! totally… it’s a “i get you, you get me” crazy love of running!
I totally get it! My own personal journey with running changes minute by minute. Sometimes I run for a faster outcome. Sometimes I run to see a new city. Sometimes I run just to chat with friends. Sometimes I run because I want to escape my reality. Sometimes I run just to burn off those cheesecake calories. But at the end of the day they are all cumulatively what makes running my passion. It is my drug of choice. My therapy.
Makes perfect sense! But then I think of the other slogan: Running is a mental sport and we are all insane. :-)
Running is about self improvement.
I started running for my health, but I keep running because it’s fun.
It absolutely makes sense! It’s more than the final end product… it’s all those training miles in between, runs with friends, solo trail runs, the good and the bad races.
I love this one b/c after doing it for 16 years, I can tell you, I will never get it right. It is a lifelong journey of learning.
Right?! You can’t just give up until you’re perfect – enjoying the miles is key for me most times!
I get it. Although I like Coco’s quote, too.
That is one of my new favorite quotes! I think that is so true. I have big goals but running is worth it to never make them. I just want to keep being the best I can be and improving even if I never get to the final result!
Love this. That’s the cool thing, we (runners) all “get it” even if we don’t understand “it.”
Totally makes sense :)
All of the above, although you did forget a period at the end of it. ;)
I know… it’s the designer in me that wants the right justified text to be flat. Design > Grammar (on this one).
Ha, a period there would have bothered me, too.
As someone who constantly fails, is constantly injured, and never gets it. This. So much of this, always…
This is awesome. I read it twice before concluding what it meant and, FYI, my conclusion was exactly as you explained it. I love looking back on and/or finding things I have written in the past. Sometimes I cringe so bad at myself :-)
I get it and love it. It’s why I run!
The meaning I would take out of it, to apply to my own personal experience, is that I benefit so much from the discipline and the training cycle that I wouldn’t dream of quitting just because my window for improvement is pretty small. But I also LOL’ed at “it sounds so prophetic” … been there, written stuff like that :)
Yes. Yes. I need to read this this morning. I’m sitting here totally overthinking a 12 miler I have to run – its cold, I’m achy, run outside or inside. And the thing is it doesn’t matter. I just need to run!
This is so great! You got it then, and you get it now! I think that is one of the hardest things for runners to grasp. I spend so much time doing the little things to make sure I can race to my absolute best on the rare occasions I race, but I will never be able to control things like the weather, and how I feel that day (it may just be a bad day). It is so interesting to think about, and I think part of why we love running. There is the constant excitement of what is coming next, with the danger of knowing you are so close to taking it too far. I always say I am dancing over the injury line, and I think that is very true.
This was so insightful, you are such a thinker, I love it :)