For many of us as runners we have been left feeling lost, looking aimlessly at races that are no longer going ahead, looking at our training plans and thinking what's the point, why bother? But let's take a step back and think first of all why do I run? Is it for the validation of others, the virtual pats on the back or is it something more?
Im very lucky, for the the last few years have set my own goals, my own targets and I think if there wasn't another race in a long time it would'nt overly bother me and that's not saying I don't miss or want to race its saying that I get my reward from running everyday, everyday I get to step out the door and listen to the sound of my feet touching the ground whether it be an easy 30 minute run or a grueling workout the feeling running gives and what I get from it remains the same.
I remember one beautiful morning last summer I finished a hard workout in High Park around 6:30 am, the sun had just came up myself and my coach were the only two in the parking lot except for the chirping birds and busy squirrels we both just stopped talking and Dave, in typical Dave fashion said without missing a beat
"Who needs a cruise??? People save up all year, work extra hours to put money away and stress and all for what for 10 days of relaxation........we go on a cruise every morning!"
Right now the motivation may not be there to hit workout paces or weekly mileage targets and that's fine, but it's importantly to realise what running means to you.
I lost my job, like so many other people due to COVID-19 and like so many I reacted the same way, I felt lost, unsure, scared and helpless, thinking when will I get to see my family again or who won't be there when I do? But what could I do about it.....fuck all!!
A few weeks ago a performance psychologist with Athletics Ireland said,
"You can't control what is going on now, but you can control how you react to it"
and for me this is what hit home. Yes I can't run like I want to, yes I'm unemployed for the first time, yes I'm away from my family......but I'm healthy, my family are healthy and safe, I'm might be away from home but I am in one of the best countries in the world surrounded by friends and by teammates who I consider my extended family here, so I'm going to react to this the best way I can.
As we come around to now what is the new norm what do we do? For some that will mean taking a step back from running, for others it will mean pouring everything the have into running as a focus and which is right and which is wrong? Neither, once we are honest with ourselves and do things in a healthy way that will make you come out of all this for the better mentally and physically. For me I think I am in the middle, I am coming off a little injury so I instead of pouring myself back into miles I am trying to build good habits of being more focused on the "everything elses" the yoga, the mediation the strength and form work trying new food to fuel with. I said earlier that it wouldn't overly concern me if we don't get to race for a long time, but saying that. I will be fucking ready when we are.
If nothing else comes out of this horrible pandemic let it be perspective. Be grateful for what we have and what running gives us, and for what it will continue to give us.
In the words of Seamus Heaney;
"If we can winter this one out, we can summer anywhere."
So stay safe, stay home and before we know it we will be back arguing about shoes!
