The time has come. After much thought, deliberation, back-and-forth, and not running, I have decided that I am not a Princess. I am not going to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February. I tried to psych myself up for it and failed miserably. I follow Jessica's incredible journey and stand in awe of her determination. But for me, the cons outweigh the pros. So there will be no Princess medal for me.
I trained. I ran a half marathon at forty; I even PR'd.
And now? I am not running at all.
There are many, many reasons why I haven't laced up my running shoes.
- I don't feel like it.
- It is COLD outside.
- Each run I have done since the half results in two days of icing my hip.
- My right foot has plantar fasciitis.
- It's very COLD outside.
- The Christmas tree is blocking the treadmill (that might have been deliberate).
- The thought of running more than a 5K fills me with dread.
- Did I mention that it is COLD?
I admit it. As much as I tried to overcome it, I am a fair weather runner.
Still, I am a runner. I am going to be flexible. If we have a nice day, and I have the time, I will head out for a short run. Maybe instead of running farther, I will try to run faster. Maybe instead of running with dread, I will run with peace.
Eventually, and soon, the holidays will be over and my treadmill will be accessible. There will be warmer days. The joy of running will return. Until then, maybe I'll Zumba.
I liked how you clarified that you are still a runner because you are. Length of your runs, speed, none of it matters. And sometimes, we have to flow with the seasons of life. This is a busy season for me and I haven't been running in weeks. And that's ok.
ReplyDeleteJust to clear things up, once a princess, ALWAYS a princess. You can't get rid of the title.
ReplyDeleteAs devastated as I am that you won't be running through the happiest place on earth with me (and by with me, I mean in spirit...I can't keep up with you), you have to look forward to it. There is nothing worse than a run that you just don't feel like running. It's the longest mile or 5 miles or 13.1 miles EVER.
Check out the Color Run (or Color Me Rad). Maybe it will come back up there this summer. It could put the fun back into running for you.....and it's fun for the whole family.
Much love from Virginia!