There is something so cool about running in the rain.
Wait. Who just wrote that? I am checking myself to see if I have a fever. It is not because I just ran in the rain (I did). It is really because I expressed deep love for doing that. It is genuine, though.
The first time I ever ran in the rain we were in San Antonio on vacation. Hang on a second. Who just wrote that? Who ran or did any intentional exercise while on vacation? Who am I? I am a person who found something I love to do.
I digress. It was July. San Antonio is hot all of the time, but in July it is really a whole, new dimension of heat. I woke up early, specifically to get in a training run. My husband looked at me like I was insane. He was a little concerned about me running in this unfamiliar city, early in the morning, in the rain. And, he thought I was crazy.
I did it anyway. Sure, I didn’t know where I was going. Sure, I was slow. Sure, I was a new at running, and a little less than graceful. It was like my own personal little “just do it” ad.
I splashed through puddles. It was exhilarating. People looked at me as though I had lost my mind. Each time I got one of those glares, I just imagined the person was giving me a high-five. There were plenty of people who smiled that “good for you” smile. I was clearly a klutzy athlete, but one who had found my bliss. It was great.
When I returned to the room, soaked to the bone, my husband gave me a “high-five” look. It was okay by me. Runners high? Maybe. I also realized in that moment that I did not have to be the best at, or even great at something to love it. The joy came from me doing things I said I would never do- more importantly, things I had always believed I could never do. Sure I could.
All I have to do is lace up and hit the pavement. I have a choice. I can see the dirty looks and feel the rain beating down on me. Or, I can see high-fives and feel the rain washing over me. I get to experience how I see the world around me.
This wonderful memory came to me as I ran through drizzle this morning. I actually just before, when I had an, “I can run now, it’s all drizzly and cold” moment. Then, I remembered San Antonio. As I hit my stride, the Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” came on my shuffled iPod. One line stuck out: “I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now”. That’s what I did. I tuned out all of the “I can’t change” lyrics in that song and let the rain wash over me.
Love Your Life 
I love reading your blog! I identify so closely that I feel as though I am reading my own blog, except I don’t have a blog. …….hmmm maybe I should. (Insert light bulb here.) Running has been my own personal road to self discovery too. Finding something “I love to do” has been such an eye opening experience to the strengths I never knew I had. To be able to take a desire and make it a reality and my own personal triumph is an amazing feeling. To be able to give myself “credit” for doing so is beyond liberating!
I hope you don’t mind if I share my recent experience with you:
Since running the Crim 10 mile in August I have been on “injured reserve.” Or at least that is the way I choose to look at it. The fact is, I was in so much pain after the race that I wound up needing crutches to get around for the next 2 weeks until I was able to get in to see my Orthopedic Doctor, who I thought would surely tell me I had a muscle, or tendon, or ligament injury, and prescribe a regimen of ice and physical therapy and I’d be good to go.*EHHHT!* (That’s supposed to be the buzzer sound for “wrong answer, but thanks for playing anyway!”) He said I have arthritis in my left hip and gently suggested I do not run again unless I want to be looking at a hip replacement by the time I am 55. (That is only 8 years from now.) As hard as that was for me to hear and as devastated as I would have imagined I would be, I wasn’t. I actually didn’t feel like that was the end of the world as I would have 2 years ago. Although my eyes did fill with tears and I did get that cold, tingling sensation that bad news often brings at first, I didn’t break out in my negative choir singing, “I finally found something I love to do and now I can’t do it! I may as well curl up and die!” Instead I decided that I would combat this with specific nutrition, supplements, and physical therapy. And here is where it is important to know that since I started running 2 years ago I have also found something else I LOVE doing; BOXING! Working with my personal trainer/boxing instructor/energy pill all in one, I found a life outside of running. So when the news from my Doctor was the worst thing I could have heard, it didn’t feel like a death sentence because I didn’t let running be all there is. I didn’t let it stop there. It was the first amazing leap I took but it wasn’t the last. So I guess the reason I want to share this, is because I have learned from the good advice I am glad I took from a beloved mentor, (ok Therapist), that in this process of personal growth and self-discovery it is important that we don’t unknowingly limit ourselves. So if I am not able to run a long distance race again I still have other physical challenging and rewarding things I love to do. And for the record, I am not giving up on running. I am gradually working my way back into it and plan to run the Superhero Fun Run in October and see where I go from there.
Meanwhile I continue to find encouragement and inspiration by reading motivational quotes and blogs like yours. –So thank you for taking the time to inspire someone you do not know. 🙂
Dee! This is so awesome. I am glad to hear you are not listening to that “you can’t run” junk. That is just what it is- junk!
Thank you for taking the time to inspire me. Perhaps I will have to give boxing a gander. How funny that my first thought was, “yeah, but you punch like a ninny. Everyone says so.” Who cares? I may not be Claressa Sheilds, but me and my ninny fists will do whatever damage we can. So there! This is great stuff. I am truly glad you took the time to write. xo