My Social Media-less Life

Today I did something I really never thought I’d do: I “retired” from running.

What does that mean?

Well, it really means that, for the foreseeable future, I will no longer be enrolling in races like this. The above certificate is from the Plaza 10K event in Kansas City, Missouri. This was my second time doing it, and my third time signing up for it.

A few weeks ago, I was lamenting the fact that I hadn’t done any training for it and that this would just be my last one, so I would just show up to run and see what happened. My mom immediately responded, “That’s a lame way to go out. Why not go out on a high note? You still have about two weeks to train!”

I “poo-pooed” her, as daughters tend to do… and then the Lord said literally the same thing.

So the next morning I went to the gym for the first time since maybe February and I began training.

Training didn’t go how I wanted it to go, but it was the best I could do with the out-of-shape body I have.

Last Friday, I finally managed to run outside for 8 kilometers (don’t ask me to do the math; the “smart watch” I use only does things in metric and I at least knew it was less than 10), and those 8 kilometers took me the better part of an hour and a half. It was not pretty.

So I took yesterday off (as anyone training for a race should do) and prayed everything would go well with my knees: the one problem area I’ve had these past few weeks.

Friends, I’m here to tell you, not only did everything go well, I got my best personal time for running anything… and my knees didn’t have any issues until this afternoon! I’m definitely staying off my feet and icing my knees now that I’m home and resting for the night. 😉

Also, my mom and my friend Esther came with me this morning and knowing someone is waiting for you at the finish line really does affect how you run.

I didn’t stop running nor did I break my pace the entire time, and I encouraged a few other people to keep going when we were within the last few miles.

I listened to part of an audiobook while running and it’s the same series I had been listening to while training, so it was easy to know how fast or slow I needed to go since I kept everything “the same”, with the exception of running with almost 1800 other people.

This was the first race in a while that I really thought more about my dad than usual, and I think it’s because this is my last one that I’ll be participating in. (I plan to volunteer for some in the future because I have also done that and enjoy it)

The last race my dad participated in was in May of 2015, and although he probably would have done more if he were still alive, his last race also had his best personal time.

Running, especially in races, has always helped me feel closer to my dad because it was one of the few things we “liked” doing together. He was a good motivator… and he was my dad, of course. So my last one with my best personal time was bittersweet.

I got my best time… and it was my last race. Just like my dad’s last one.

But for physical reasons, I don’t think I could successfully do another one… at least not anytime soon. My knees really aren’t in the best shape at the moment and I need them for work, so I can do that successfully… and right now, that’s where my focus is supposed to be the most.

I’m just glad I finally listened to my mom and the Lord and trained for this race. It really taught me that finishing well is the BEST way to finish, no matter what you’re doing.