The beginning, the first mile, the challenge, breathing all wrong, each new attempt was into unchartered territory. Keep at it. Each time making it further. This is what I refer to as the “newbie, rookie or not quite hooked yet”. The trial period, do I love this? Let’s test the waters, sign up for a race and see what this is all about.

I see the finish line, thank goodness because I am so done! I did it! So proud I have accomplished my first 5K! There is just one thing! I know I can do better, and so it begins.

5ks, 10ks, half marathons and for some progression to a full marathon. Picking your favorite races each year and adding new ones that look interesting. Seeing the same familiar faces at races feels normal and being part of the running community. Supporting fellow runners and competing against yourself, the clock and anyone around within ½ mile to the finish line. Hook line and sinker! All in and loving it.

Continuing training running races then it happens, injured. Whatever the injury, everything seems upside down and confusing. My schedule included a run and now it doesn’t! Where will my serotonin come from? Shin splints, hamstring pull, twist the ankle, any running injury, all take time to heal. Each injury will have a different strategy to get you back on the road. With patience and time, you will heal. This is the “learning from experience period!”

All healed with knowledge most likely to stretch effectively, cross train, use weights and of course ease back into the miles. All knowledge we acquire as we run more. These are lessons we all learn at a different time. We do learn quite quickly that running makes us feel good mentally. It frees our minds and we long to feel that. So now this is called the “habit phase.”

This phase can last years at times hating it, stepping away, then back to loving it. This is a complicated relationship. Searching for the runners high feeling! We run through depression, to celebrate, and sometimes just to be with friends or as an escape. Times of our lives can be linked to our running careers. We are blessed we were given this ability and realized the positives that can come out of it.

Jen B