Running makes me happy

Running makes me happy

Written Sunday 26^th May, Brisbane

 I saw the above quote on a lady’s t-shirt as I was running along the Manly (Qld) foreshore this afternoon. It reminded me that so much of life is 'attitude', that one of life's  fundamental truths is  - the way you decide to see each situation defines and decides the reality of that situation.

So was I happy on this run? The location was certainly perfect. It was a late autumn afternoon, mild temperature, no breeze, a glorious clear sky with a vibrant sunset to the west and a full moon to the East. The course was picturesque including a series of beaches, parks and lagoons; a large marina full of appealing shapes, masts and flags suggesting lots of money, fun and adventure; several children playgrounds with the sights and sounds of squealing, laughing kids enjoying life in the warmth of family; and long sweeping bays of swooping birds, migratory flocks, and the occasional pelican: all framed by the homes and houses of an affluent suburb. The track was flat and not overly crowded. Quite simply, a lovely place to run.

As well, it was the end of a relaxing weekend, I was feeling strong and parts of the run were fast and empowering. The endorphins were flowing and life was good. But was I ‘happy’?

It occurred to me there always seems to be a ‘but’ between me and feeling ‘happy’. Or perhaps more accurately, an ‘if only’.  I love running, I do it out of choice, and it makes me feel good. So it doesn’t make any sense that I am always unhappy with the results.

In this case, I had just run a long section at a faster than normal pace, it was obvious that I was getting stronger, fitter and faster, and I had every right to be pleased. And the setting meant I should have been at peace with the world and with ‘me’. I should have been enjoying the moment.

Instead, the old ‘if only I was fitter/ faster/ stronger’ was dominating my thoughts. Instead of celebrating my progress to date and committing to a continued improvement and effort, I was beating myself up for not achieving the desired results faster. I realised I was forgetting to let running ‘make me happy’. I had the wrong attitude to my workouts.

So no more ‘buts’. From now on, I will still work on improving my running, I will continue to ensure I achieve the pre-planned outcomes for the session and I will continue to learn from each session.

As well, and perhaps more importantly, I will enjoy my success to date, I will celebrate my improvements and my efforts, and I will remember to enjoy the actual run.

So today’s lesson is simple: I will be ‘kind’ to myself. And I will let running make me happy.

 Anyone got a t-shirt for me?

Until next time……. 'keep living, laughing, lovin' and runnin'

‘Wandering James’, the Slow Runner