Today I want to talk about running. No, not complain about running, just simply talk about it. (By talk I mean write…) Before and during my first two years of high school I absolutely hated running. You could tell me to “run to the kitchen” and eat a donut and I would probably want to slap you in the face. Running just wasn’t for me. Not even close!
Once I got to junior year of high school something knocked some sense into my tiny peanut brain. That something was my friend Alex (Lauren). I had given up one season of cheerleading (football season) so we could be football managers. Why? Because why not? Try new things! Upon wintertime I was back into my cheerleading element and Al came with me. (It was awesome!) When springtime was rapidly approaching I had realized that my previous springs were wasted doing nothing but going home after school and eating my life away. While I wasn’t fat or over weight (THANK GOD!), I realized that I wanted to do something. Something to get me on my feet. Alex had a desire to run track so I figured I might as well give it a try. I mean, would it kill me to participate in daily physical activity that doesn’t involve moving my hand from plate to mouth? Probably not!
I still remember the first day of track practice. We were told to run to where coach Goeckler was and then back to the high school for uniform checkouts and then we could leave. Little did I know the run was going to be more than a mile long. Let’s just say that I wasn’t the fastest. Oh no. I finished DEAD LAST! It was so shameful; I felt like a failure. But it wasn’t enough to quit. I love to challenge myself so I told myself to keep on keeping on. Unfortunately, that only lasted for the semester. Senior year I decided to skip out on running track and focus on other things. Honestly, thing that I don’t even remember what they were. No big deal.
When I got to college I still had an interest in running and had not really progressed. Running a mile or even a little more wasn’t an issue. (I’m speaking of outdoor running here) Anything more than like, a mile and a half was considered a death sentence. Especially in Lawrence. If you’ve never been here, this will be my chance to explain to you what it is like in terms of topography
[Small Blog Detour] Kansas is normally described as flat as a pancake. There are two exceptions: The Flint Hills (which are really boring) and Lawrence. Lawrence is a place where your last choice of vehicle is a manual and just about the only place in Kansas where parking involves your parking brake and ensuring your tires are at an angle. University of Kansas women are usually known for having nice legs and butts. I mean, come on, we walk hills every day. It only makes sense. Might I add that you can’t show up to class without breaking a sweat from walking there…unless you’re lazy and take the bus. But Whatever.
So anyway, before I get off track, Lawrence is full of hills, which makes running outside a challenge. It also makes a simple walk a terrific workout. (Score!) Oddly enough this has fed into my running interest. Why? I couldn’t answer that question honestly. Maybe it’s because I want to be more of a badass but nobody can really say.
Of my almost four years here in LFK (a popular Lawrence nickname short for “Lawrence F*cking Kansas”), I have really come to love running. So much that I discovered dreaded bursitis in my left knee. But that hasn’t stopped me!
I haven’t become the person who gets a run in every day. Eventually I will be. I am determined to find that. Currently, and all throughout my college career, I have worked 30 hours per week and attend school full time which ranges anywhere from 15-18 units. There really isn’t much time to run when work is from 8am-5pm and majority of film classes are at night. (Does anyone else understand why I hardly have a social life!?) My life really is busy for an undergraduate. Any-who, this semester has been a little different than the rest.
I had the opportunity to take a one-unit course that is a 10K/Marathon training class! I know, the goal of a 10K sounds pretty large for a girl who says she’s slow at running and can’t go very far. Like I said, I’m looking to push myself. Furthermore, I am looking to gain the full runners’ mindset and love running even more. This is something that I have wanted for years and have never given myself the chance to work my way into it. Instead I advance at running a mile or two at a time and then think, “I will never get past 4 miles. Ever.”
COME ON, OLIVIA. ROME WASN’T BUILT IN A DAY!
Therefore I will not be able to complete a 10K without training, even though I have done so with several 5K races in the past. I also will not be able to complete a marathon without training. It will take time, training, and strength. More importantly, self discipline so I don’t mosey my way off track! A running goal isn’t completed in a day; you complete it day by day. I am more than willing to work toward my goal and eventually cross “Run a Marathon” off of my bucket list.
So here is to my first 10K and many more after that. Here’s to running farther than I ever have before. But more importantly, here’s to learning what it takes to be a runner!
-Liv
Living with Liv 