Running

I've been thinking about running quite a bit, recently. The other day, when I was thinking about my hopes for 2007, I thought about how much I use to enjoy it. About seven years ago, I set a fitness goal of running in a 5K, although I had never run before, nor had I ever been particularly athletic. So, I found a race to run in (The Close to the Coast 5K in Freeport, Maine - - I remember it well) and started running. Slowly at first, but gradually building up to a respectable pace. I completed that first 5K, and I kept entering races, even running in Joan Benoit Samuelson's Beach to Beacon 10K. Then, I got married, moved to Idaho, gained some weight, and sort of forgot about exercising at all. In the spring of 2002, Steve and I started running together, and entered a couple of races. I started to get that old feeling again. I ran my last race in September of 2002, with my fastest 5K time ever. I got pregnant with Camden a week later, and have never run another step since. Sad, but true.
There is something about running that is hard to explain. I guess for me, the best way to sum it up is, as a kid, I never felt comfortable in gym class - - I didn't like group sports, felt awkward, uncoordinated, and above all else, self-conscious. I just never felt like I fit in. When I started running, though, I felt like an athlete for the first time in my life. When I would participate in a road race, I didn't stand around at the starting line wondering if I was the fastest, strongest, thinnest, etc. - - I was just a plain old runner, like everyone else there. Another thing that I have always loved about running is that familiar acknowledgement that occurs between two runners when they meet on the road (you'll know what I mean if you've experienced this yourself) - - a quick smile, nod, or wave, but it is more than that. It is almost like a secret handshake is contained within that knowing glance, that nobody else knows about, unless they run, too.
I ran for a few minutes this morning, while taking my morning walk on the treadmill. It felt a little weird, which I'm guessing comes from the fact that I am still carrying extra baby weight, as well as the fact that this old bod hasn't done much exercising this past year, until recently. There's a 5K in Boise in March - - the first "official" race of the spring...maybe I ought to enter.