I had the best run ever today. And I mean maybe the best run I’ve ever had in my life. I can’t remember another time when running has felt so absolutely effortless, pain-free (YES!) and joyful. I just set out intending to walk, but then Earth Wind & FIre “Fantasy” came on and that got me GOING. And instead of my usual little old-lady run, (very short strides, more like a fast shuffle) I just WENT with it, and I was like, FLYING, uphill! It felt so so so good. Then I walked a bit. Then another song came on and again I just pumped it out.
Partially it just felt great to do that. It was a cool, beautiful morning in the woods. Partially I was rehearsing for the Weight Watchers 5k walk I am going to be leading this Friday (SO excited about this!). I was thinking about telling the members about stride length and pace, and remembering all I’d learned from my racewalking coach with Team in Training.
But all of a sudden I thought, what if I just ran… like a gazelle? (OK, don’t laugh) Instead of like the little old lady I’d started to think of myself as being, since my ankle got injured again. And my body just took off. It took off and I was like, WOO HOOOOOOOOO look at this!
I was also trying to show my Phillips Directlife monitor a thing or two. According to it, I’m not running even when I think I’m running. So today I was like, “I’m RUNNING, dammit!” I wanted to know exactly what I need to do for the stupid thing to actually register as “you are running.” As it turns out, it takes this “running like a gazelle” thing as opposed to the little old lady shuffle. Figures.
Anyway, I feel a renewed happiness about running. I hope I can run like this again because it felt so awesome. But to just have experienced it this one time was amazing. Now I’m even more excited for the 10k Trail Run/Hike I signed up for in September. Who wants to join me? Brunch at my house afterward because it is just 3 blocks away!
(note: that is not me in the photograph, but it looks a lot like my woods and it is how I FELT)
foodfoodbodybody 
June 29, 2010 at 1:51 pm
That sounds great! I need to re-learn how to enjoy running! Good luck with the 10K that is so awesome!
June 29, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Wow, glad you had such a wonderful run! I love it when a workout feels exhilarating like that!
Hmmm…that 10K sounds like fun! I’ll have to seriously consider that one!
June 29, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Since it’s so uneven, I’m planning on hiking a bunch of it. (doesn’t “hiking” sound more athletic than “walking?” LOL) But it’s super gorgeous and I think it’s going to be awesome.
June 29, 2010 at 2:32 pm
AWESOME job!!
I am so inspired by you!
thatisall
xoxo
June 29, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Those kinds of runs are truly amazing! I wish every one of them felt that awesome! Congrats on “running like a gazelle!” and loving it. I cannot stop smiling for you!!
June 29, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Run like a gazelle sounds FUN! No wonder you enjoyed it so much more than just shuffling along (and I do that, too – the old-lady shuffle, lol). I have issues with my Phillips monitor, too – it hardly thinks I do anything when I do my workouts…dumb thing, I want credit for them!
June 29, 2010 at 11:23 pm
LOL. What I call “running like a gazelle” means all out LONG strides, as fast as I can, like those Kenyan runners on TV. I can’t keep it up very long, but I did it several times during my run this morning and it just felt amaaaaaaaazing. Normally I’ve got very short strides and a very slow pace. Shuffle shuffle shuffle. But today I realized it was just a story I was telling myself – that I HAD to run like that – and weirdly, something just broke loose.
And the DirectLife is SUPER unimpressed when I do weight training, it thinks I’m napping! ha.
June 30, 2010 at 4:30 am
I know nothing about running, having only watched others do it, but the joy just leaps off the page here. WTG, Foody!
June 30, 2010 at 6:38 am
Fly! What an inspiration.
June 30, 2010 at 11:34 am
my gazelle penguin friend! I miiiiiiiisssssssssssss you!!!!!!
July 1, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Glad to hear you had such an awesome run! Looking forward to hearing about the 10k run in September! I’m sure you’ll rock it 🙂
July 3, 2010 at 8:38 pm
woo hoo! yay for awesome runs!
fwiw, short strides are considered to be more efficient for running. Just increase your turnover to increase your speed.