November has this way of sneaking up on me, especially this year. One minute, we’re deep in Halloween planning, and the next, I’m picking out my turkey trot fit, my kitchen is torn apart and I’m trying to get a jump on holiday shopping.
This one’s not going to be a big gratitude lecture: it’s just five things I keep coming back to when running feels harder or life feels louder than it should. Let me know if any of these resonate with you!
A Body That Lets You Start Again
I’ve had stretches where I barely ran at all. Life got busy, or I fell down the stairs, or I got sick. Every time I’ve worried that I waited too long, and every time my body has been more forgiving than I expected. I’m not saying the comebacks are always perfect or easy, but there’s always a comeback, and that’s pretty fabulous.
Run/Walk Intervals
Run/walk intervals are probably the reason I’m still running in midlife. They took a lot of the pressure off, and I can still get out there and enjoy miles, no matter what else is going on. And don’t let anyone convince you that you’re not a “real runner” because you take walk breaks. That’s nonsense.
Other Runners On The Internet Who Show Up To Support
Some days, the comments on a post mean more than the post itself. Someone will share they’re in the same tough patch, or they are struggling with their own fitness journey, or they also signed up for a race and forgot to train. It’s such a small thing, but it makes the journey feel less lonely. I’m grateful for the runners in the community who show up to support!
The Clarity Of A Morning Run
My house is a mess right now. Our suitcases still aren’t unpacked. I’ve got a grocery list going for an half-formed Thanksgiving menu. A morning run fixes exactly none of those things. But my head is quieter and I feel more calm. Depending on how early I can leave, I might have about two hours where no one needs anything from me, and I can ease into my day on my own terms. My run or walk is usually the best part of my day.
The Joy Of The Finish Line
The running is always great, but the finish lines are where it’s at. Not only do they mark the culmination of your goal, but you get to be with the friends you ran or walked with, and all the other people cheering you on! Running gives us a reason to gather, and sometimes, the gathering is just as important as the miles.
Gratitude doesn’t have to be grand. Most times, it’s just noticing the small things that keep you going. If you’re heading into Thanksgiving week feeling behind, you’re not. You are just a runner in November, doing what you can with the time you have. And that’s enough.
Tell me one thing you are grateful for as a runner right now. I’d love to hear it, and I bet someone else reading this needs to hear it too.
Welcome to Fit Five Friday, our new linkup!
We’ve got FOUR incredible co-hosts, and we are ready to link up every Friday to share YOUR weekly fitness favorites! Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, and Runs with Pugs, every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Who’s ready for some fun?
I am grateful that I CAN run… sometimes it’s painful, other times I have zero time or mojo…
But I CAN!!
and I always feel better after..