For the Love/Hate of Running

Last weekend, I participated in my 4th Ragnar Relay.

I say "participated" because, thanks to the groin/hip injury I'm slowwwwly healing from, I had to opt out of actually running this year. But, I still wanted to hang out and support my team, so I went along as the van driver/team mom/holiday cheermeister. Our team theme was The Karate Kids (yes, I chose it), and there's no way I was missing out on an opportunity to wear a headband and quote one of my favorite movies like craaaazy. (We'll just call it Ragnar 3.5 for me.)

Here's the thing: I don't love running. But I looove running events.

I'm not sure if I have ever consistently loved the physical act of running. I do like being in shape, I love being able to play frisbee (my first athletic love) with better ease, I love bonding with other runners, I love the feeling of running farther than I ever have before, I love talking about running strategies/gear/events/etc. (like when I used to blog for The Phoenix Marathon for work -- that was a good time), and...I love Ragnar Relays, amen. (Enough to run them in LEGO and Sesame Street costumes, or in the pouring-like-it's-never-poured-before buckets o' rain.)

But the day-in, day-out training...the drudgery of the miles after work or on Saturday mornings when I'd rather be doing a number of other things....those are the parts I don't like. (Oh, and I don't like the injuries....obviously... :)

We're frenemies, running and I. And after dealing with the latest injury, I was like, "I'm never going to do this again. I'm retiring." 

But after about 0.00005 seconds back at a Ragnar starting line, back in a van for 30 hours with a new group of running friends to bond with overnight.....I was all "Running, let's carve our initials into a tree and elope! xoxoxooxo 4ever"

We have a complicated relationship. The bads are bad, and the goods are good. But it felt great to be out at Ragnar again, even as a bystander, because it reminded me of the ol' crush I just can't seem to kick.

Lately, I've been taking advantage of all the free fitness classes at work and loving it. I've tried out barre, pilates, yoga, cardio sculpt....it feels good to sweat and work my body after a couple months of nada. And, the added core strength can only help with preventing future injuries.

But, you know....I could lace up those running shoes again any day now. We'll see. You know how these things go :)

We ran 200 miles and called ourselves Kevin Bacon.

Good grief I love me some Ragnar.

Ragnar Relay = 12 team members, two vans, 30ish hours, 200-ish miles, no-ish sleeping, and...ridiculous amounts of fun.

If you've been around for awhile, you'll remember that I've done this before (once in a Lego costume and once as Big Bird). I can safely say it was easier doing this without a bulky costume. I ran with new people this time, and we ran in regular running clothes (I love you spandex) and rocked some Kevin Bacon t-shirts designed by my talented bestie. (We were originally Team Footloose and I was like "ehhh let's target that a little more...KEVIN BACON!")

I'm currently still experiencing a Ragnar hangover, symptoms of which include fatigue, a confused stomach, disorientation, stiffness, sore toenails, severe separation anxiety from my van buddies...

Did I mention it rained...a lot? I think I ran through a waterfall for a few miles. And up a hill. And there was mud? It's all hazy. (See the aforementioned disorientation.)

What I CAN tell you is that I would do it all again in a heartbeat. 

I seriously love the validation of a running event. All the training has its highs and lows, but then you're there and it's like....I'm one of these people. I am doing something really hard and loving it. I love being around the hundreds of people who are in the same boat. It's like this amazing, tangible group energy. And, it's totally addictive.

And seriously, does it get any prettier than Napa Valley? I mean, we could have done without all the rolling hills, but dang...the scenery was superb.

Now you may enjoy some photos. I'm off to keep recuperating.