Featured song: “Run, Run, Run” by the Velvet Underground
Today is now known as Terry Fox Day in Manitoba (formerly known as ‘August Civic Holiday’ – what the?) and for good reason. It is named after the Winnipeg-born athlete who was just 22 when he died in 1981 during his attempt to run across Canada on one leg in his Marathon of Hope. So fantastic that he will be commemorated every year. Huge thanks to Ace Burpee for getting that ball rolling.
The Terry Fox Run in Manitoba will be held on September 14th in Assiniboine Park and I’ve decided that I’m going to participate in the 5k. I’m even on a team! This is another one of those undertakings that would shock anyone I knew if this were a couple years ago. But that was then, this is now. And I’m learning every day.
Over the past year, I’ve become pretty keen on running and I’m becoming more passionate about it as time progresses. It’s such a strange concept – running. I used to think, Why would I run? Run where? For what? What am I running to? That sounds like the least fun type of exercise EVER. But then again, it’s running! The body is designed to move. The body is designed to run. It’s a type of exercise you can do anywhere, at your own pace, at whatever fitness level you’re at. So it’s not such a strange concept at all.
And I’ve become fascinated with the whole world of running. Indoors. Outdoors. I am by no means a professional runner – SO so far from it. I don’t look like a runner. I don’t act like a runner. (Whatever that means) But I’ve gone to the Millennium Library and have taken out multiple books about it. The nutrition, the stretches, the mentality – what the body is capable of is absolutely remarkable.
I once read, “Your body is capable of almost anything, it’s your brain you have to convince.” AND IT’S SO TRUE. Once you flick that switch in your head to ON, to GO, it comes pretty easily. What I’ve learned is you just need fuel to run. Not in the food sense. Use your anger as fuel. Use your stress as fuel. Use that ‘if I could just lose 5 pounds’ as fuel. Use ‘EFF CANCER’ as fuel.
Of course, I would love to lose a few pounds. Lots of people would. So if that happens, I’d be pretty damn excited. But in all honesty, running is such a huge stress reliever for me. There’s this thing called a ‘Runner’s High’ – it’s a real thing!! – and it completely clears out your mind. You feel invincible. On top of the world. And it lasts a while. Whatever jerk is hurting your feelings, they don’t matter in that moment cause your body is doing its thang. Kicking ass. Put together a killer playlist and it helps so much – thank you Adele. Thank you Alanis. Thank you Young the Giant.
So today I woke up early, cause my body doesn’t know how to sleep in. (That’s a story for a different post) Since it’s a holiday, I didn’t have to scramble to get ready for work. Instead, I was just awake at 6:49 AM. I felt foggy, sleepy, slow. I ate a banana, downed some coffee, and ran. 6.5 miles! I surprised myself.
I was dying of thirst when I got to Andrew Currie Park – but guess what? They had a water fountain!
We used to go under this bridge with the dangling shoes all the time on the way to my ex’s place. When I got to it, it made me sad. It made me run HARDER.
Confession – I spent $180 on running shoes last week but I am so so so in love with them. And now my feet don’t hurt.
And I had something to look forward to when I got home – ENDLESS COFFEE. Skype date with Prairie Jess. And this, steel cut oats + 1 tbsp of peanut butter, a banana, blueberries, unsweetened almond milk + cinnamon.
Happy Terry Fox Day, everyone!
Griffin
Such inspiration!!!