Rerun

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It’s only January of the new year and I’ve already literally almost fallen flat on my face.

I took up running as a habit in high school, when Dad told me that I could get rid of my asthma by increasing the amount of cardiovascular exercise I did.  Why I listened to him, I don’t know but I set myself up for the challenge, mainly to prove him wrong.  Running any type of meaningful distance never came naturally to me as a kid in grade school and didn’t come naturally to me then.  In college, I ran an obligatory, regimented mile every day on an indoor track, hating every second of it.  Much to my chagrin, my asthma disappeared.

I didn’t start to call running a hobby until I had to consciously set aside time for it in my schedule.  In my first job out of school, my workouts were always done in the dark - either at 5 am or 10 pm.  I ran the three mile loop in Houston in the dark, in the rain, in the cold.  It was in the dark by myself that I learned to enjoy the singular focus, tunnel vision, and the repetitive, almost hypnotic rhythm of the run.

After I moved back to Dallas, I ran the nine mile loop around the lake on the best of fall days, which meant you were sweating before the first quarter mile and thought real hard about jumping in.  On my less ambitious days, I ran the trails near where I lived.  As with any part of the city, there were people mugged on it every season.  The same unspoken rules were: Don’t run alone.  Or at night.  Or early in the morning. 

When Bryan and I moved to our townhouse, we conveniently lived by another trail system.  Running the trail became our regular routine.  This spring we got Bowie, a German Shorthaired Pointer for Bryan to hunt with and for me to run with.  Don’t run with the puppy until he’s over a year old, for growth and development reasons, we were advised.  Between all the riding and puppy walking, there was no time for running.  Contrary to everything my body and mind were accustomed to, we walked.  First only around the block a few times, then a mile, then more.  Soon enough, we walked the same distance that I ran.

In a few weeks, Bowie turns one and I’ve started running again.  I’m working up to the distance as well as the frequency - right now only two miles, twice a week.  I tell myself it’s to work the dog up to it.  My lies don’t fool anyone, it’s all for me.  After the longest break I’ve ever taken, my legs have to be reminded of the rhythm and my behind has to build back up its muscle.  The joints in my hips hurt after running two days in a row.  And my feet, my feet have to find their place.

Which leads to my near-faceplant of 2019.  In my new neighborhood, which is actually an old neighborhood, tree roots lurk below the surface of the uneven sidewalk.  I’ve tripped over them before, I’m actually known for tripping  and falling during my runs.  Last week, sure enough, down I went.  The dog stopped right by me, sniffing on the sidewalk where I landed, wondering what it was that I saw that caught my interest so suddenly.  Luckily, the only injuries sustained were scraped palms, knees, and bruised pride - all of which will heal.

And so I start the year, trying to re-learn the thing that I’ve done for almost 20 years and picking it and myself back up again. 

Comments

  1. Oh wow! Despite the near face-plant, I think that's super cool you're running again, Ruth:D Seriously, this past fall, I tried to run with my kids because the middle child and the youngest are both in the cross-country team. Oh man! I almost died! You should be my running coach:D

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    1. I don't know if I'd be any good as a coach, seeing as to how I keep tripping. That being said, keep it up! I like running in the wintertime a lot more than in the summers here

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  2. ugh i ran for few years (as in 5ks not marathons) but my feet and ankle and heel spurs and hip joins all cry out now just from farm work! So I have kudos for you to get back to it. And Bowie will be a great partner for you. UM how can he be almost 1 year old!!

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    1. They grow up so fast (so sad but also thank god)!

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  3. I didn't know that about puppies and running so good to know and thanks for sharing that info. I'm glad you are ok minus a couple scrapes.

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  4. I am trying to pick up running again after taking a long break. Its humbling to start back at the beginning for me but I am still enjoying it. My joints not so much!

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    1. As I learned, there is absolutely no shame in starting at the beginning again

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  5. That is so awesome you are running, and I'm glad you didn't hurt yourself too bad on the near face-plant! I used to love running outside everyday around Memorial when I lived in Houston and Lady Bird Lake when I lived in Austin, but now that I'm in Seattle the lack of trails in the downtown area keeps me indoors on a treadmill. Though this makes me motivated to get back out there! :)

    http://roadesque.com

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    1. Yes - Memorial in Houston! I almost exclusively ran around it at 10 pm at night, which is probably not advised. Treadmill is good. Probably better on your joints

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  6. ouch! 5am and 10pm sound like the most unappealing times to me.. But I understand the habit.. once you start doing it it becomes a part of you.. I always envy those who start their mornings with a workout.

    http://www.henatayeb.blogspot.com

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    1. I can't do early mornings anymore since I get to work SUPER early - I much prefer the evenings anyway

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    1. I tried running with a dog, but as it turns out, the dog runs faster and for longer than I can.

      So true about the asthma though! Exercise gives me far fewer attacks than it used to. (Weird google account issues x_x)

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    2. I'm constantly asking the dog to trot along - sometimes he gets carried away and tries to lope off

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