Compared to other places I've lived, I think of my SoFlo area as an urban development. You can visit great parks, and of course the beaches, but running in any direction will get you miles of neighborhoods and pseudo-industrial enclaves...some beautiful, some not so much. For my Sunday long run, I decided to head for my big Griffin loop, which extends west and north to capture connecting streets full of lush mystery and trashy charms. There were more runners out yesterday (Ft. Lauderdale race is soon!), and more trash along the roads. The cool-down felt great with the sun blazing through clear skies....I got warm quickly and loosened up after my first few miles.
It was fun comparing notes with cousin Steve, who also runs. An injury side-lined him some years back, but he was showing off his new Mizunos, so I was happy to hear he was back. Some of the runners I saw on my loop were younger, faster and more relaxed looking than me. But as I tackled first one section, then another, I had to allow myself some pride; I've been running now almost 10 years and "come hell or high water" have managed to STAY running all that time, minus a few days or so here and there. So it hasn't exactly gone as 'planned': I am not the 'uber-runner' of my fantasies. My body, built for anything but speed, seems to take running as a really long, fast walk! With occasional spurts of greatness, meaning I can actually get a good gait going, I have morphed 'training' into a comfortable familiarity with all my loops and routes....knowing just how much will get me awake, or stretch my limits and my legs. And no races since Miami '12.
Hanging with Steve reminds me that every runner has their own 'Inner Runner'...flavored by personality, ambition, competitiveness and drive. I had much more ambition in the beginning. Now I have drive, enough to convince me 3-5 days a week that it's worth my while to get out there again. I was goal-oriented; training for events. These days, I am most interested in how it feels and what I see along the way. As above, this shot of a canal overpass on 29th, a semi-industrial park connector between Stirling and home. Enchanting spot!
Some times I push through and like yesterday, find it worthwhile. Other times I choose my couch, my notebooks, my floor, my yoga routine....or dive into my kitchen and play with good foods to feed my hopes and dreams. As I watched a young gal running ahead of me yesterday I thought "great job, young one, now let's see you keep it up another 30 years!"
Age is a good thing. Now I know when I can, when I shouldn't, and when none of that matters!
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