I’d Be a Better Wrestler.
Have I ever told you how hard running is for me?
Well, in case I haven’t, I just wanted you to know…
Running is hard for me.
Not the mental “get out there and run” part; that is the easiest component for me.
The physical aspect of running is so challenging for me that sometimes I wonder if my body was even built to move any faster than 4 miles per hour. I am just not built for this sport.
I’m fairly short and thick. My calves are the diameter of a 3 year old’s waist.
I’ve had asthma since I was in elementary school, and I refuse to use steroidal inhalers because they geek me out.
And I’m dense. Very, very dense.
Fast twitch muscles? Pffffttt…WHAT fast twitch muscles?
While I was slogging along with my friend, James on Sunday’s long run (10 miles), I said the following (strictly paraphrased, because who can really remember what they said 2 days ago while suffering from heat stroke and asthmatic delirium?):
“James, I’m sorry I’m so useless today. I’ve decided that I’m just really not built for running.”
“You know…I’m built more for dead-lifting, or wrestling. Yeah…I’d be an awesome wrestler.”
He replied that he was built for ceramic-making or competitive pizza eating. Or something like that. But, it was a long run, and I’m probably mixing up the details and timeline of our conversation.
The point is that on Sunday, I came to a strong realization between asthma attacks.
I am never going to be any better than I am today.
Oh, sure. I might get a little faster on my short runs, or I might get better at certain aspects of my runs (hills, tempo, endurance). But I am never going to really be any faster, and I don’t think that running is ever going to get any easier.
On one hand, this upsets me. Everyone wants to get better at something that they spend so much time and energy doing. I don’t really like sucking at running.
On the other hand, I can’t honestly say that I’d even continue running if it were easy. I never take the easy way out.
“Easy” bores me.
I failed math the entire way through school, and now I’m an accountant. Somehow I took the one thing that I sucked the worst at, and made a career out of it. And, I don’t suck at it.
I don’t know why I do that. I think I must like the torture.
Or the challenge.
* Have you joined my Facebook Group yet?
* See how my training is going over here!
* Wonder what I’m eating?
* Everyone loves a giveaway!
RunToFinish
Tuesday, 11th August 2009 at 1:47 pm
ok I feel woefully behind on posts but I’m trying! now I don’t believe that you can’t be any better than you are today. But you have to decide how important is it? I mean really if it’s important for you to be faster and is going to just make you supremely happy well…time for speedwork. But you know running isn’t supposed to be awful and if it isn’t your thing that’s ok, you have lots of other great activities.
Ashley
Tuesday, 11th August 2009 at 5:52 pm
Love the post! I’m now inspired to not take the “easy” way out and go ahead and commit to a half. I feel like I have “fast twitch muscles,” but my body wasn’t especially built for very long runs.
gqh
Wednesday, 12th August 2009 at 9:50 am
I am never going to be any better than I am today.
Don’t take this the wrong way, sister, but …
Pfffttt! So what? I came to THAT particular realization a LOOOOONG time ago, but I’m fine with it. In fact, I assume I’ll start to suck even MORE at running as the years go by.
But the reason i run is for my health, so I’m more than okay with it.
Sure, I still sometimes get caught up in the races and trying to post better times and the rest of it. Nothing wrong with that.
But I try not to let a poor run or race get to me too much.
I mean, you run so you can indulge in the occasional bowl of peanut butter oats, whatever they are, right?
joggersl
Wednesday, 12th August 2009 at 11:09 am
You are totally right, G. I’m not devastated about the fact that I won’t get any better. I’m mostly just beginning to process this info and figure out where to file it in my brain. I definitely don’t have to run with the purpose of getting faster. I love running just to say that I run. And, being able to eat peanut butter oats (whatever they are) without concern is a definite plus.
p.s…If you haven’t had peanut butter oats, you have to. Well, unless you hate peanut butter and oats. In which case, I’d tell you to just drink another beer.