Week 6 2022 Summer Miles
Find
the JOY in running
It
is SO awesome to see so many people jogging and running through neighborhoods, on
nearby trails, up local canyons and pretty much everywhere! I have seen people
of all ages—and with varying levels of speed, agility and experience—grabbing
their running shoes and hitting the pavement at all hours.
It’s
no surprise that at a time of stress and uncertainty, people have turned to one
of the most basic forms of human exercise. The Covid-19 pandemic has presented
numerous challenges for everyone, limiting our access to the activities and
sports we love. It has also created stress and a mounting frustration that many
of us feel we need to “burn off.” Running can provide that: It is both flexible
and accessible. It is a unifying activity that transcends barriers of age, gender
and socioeconomic status.
I
have been a running enthusiast for more than 40 years. It started out simply
enough: At 14, I began running. Since then, it has also allowed me to explore
the world around me. I’ve run on beaches, mountain trails, asphalt, sidewalks,
sand, grass and pretty much any surface out there. I am extremely grateful to
have met SO many amazing people along my journey of running. From my early
years in jr. high to high school, then college and now having had the tremendous
opportunity of being a coach for over 24 years and ALL the incredible runners I
have had the privilege of coaching and associating with. I have truly been
blessed.
The
health benefits of regular exercise are numerous and well-established. They
include improved cardiovascular fitness, lower blood pressure and improved
cholesterol, sounder sleep, sharper concentration, an endorphin-mediated boost
in mental health, and increased longevity. And there are studies that suggest
that the benefits of running are also available to those who begin jogging
later in life—even after age 50. The moral? As Nike says, “Just do it!”
Running isn't easy. Running sounds like a
simple activity, that doesn't
make it easy. It's much easier to stay indoors, sit on the couch, and watch TV
while eating chips and cookies. Much easier. But everything that's worthwhile
and valuable comes with a price. Usually that means a time commitment and some discipline.
Running is you and you alone. No
extras needed. Just you. That can be intimidating, but also refreshing. YOU get out of it what YOU put into it.
Running is not fickle. You
practice, you improve. You become fit, you become fleet of feet. A
transformation occurs and you eventually see yourself as graceful. Smooth.
Efficient. Lean. It's a great endeavor.
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