The Best Bad Run

There are 2 kinds of bad runs.

The one where everything goes wrong (stomach problems, wrong clothes, bad weather, dogs, puddles, cars), and the one where nothing is wrong.

Confused yet?

The first one is great. A run with any of those problems teaches you how to handle those things. They're only an issue the first time. After that, old news. They aren't really the makings of a bad run, but the ingredients of a great runner.

But the second one....

Nothing goes wrong in this version. This is the best bad run there is. Let me explain...

On Sunday (7 days from now) I will run the Georgia Marathon in Atlanta. Excited? Yes. Prepared? About as prepared as Kiwi and I were for the Beach Bum Tri. In the beginning Kiwi pointed out that consistent training is not my strong point. He's right. I go for days, even weeks without a run. Then I feel guilty, a case of the Should Have Gone Runnings. (Also called "Think what you could do if you actually tried!") Remember Augusta? 16 days ago? That was my last run.

Yup. Really.

I'm running a marathon on Sunday.

Yup. Really.

So I just got back from a run. The Best Bad Run.

2.06 miles (3.32km). 19:32 minutes. 9:28 min/mi.

That's it. A bitty baby run.

I was winded. I was thirsty. I felt heavy. Because you can't fake a run. Once you're out there, the run will show you where you are. That can be the bad part. A lack of training will show. Better training will show. There's no hiding (or running) from a run. For 2 miles my brain would not shut off. My breathing was steady but hard. The humidity hung on me. There was nothing graceful in this, nothing record-breaking was achieved.

Stupid bad run...


...that was exactly what I needed.

It wasn't a race. There was no music. There were no spectators. I could hear how loud my thoughts were, drawing my attention inward and letting me know I needed more thinking time in the coming weeks. I could remember the early days of running. Wake, sleepily putting on running clothes, wake up by mile 2. It was an absolute in my schedule. I was a runner, no question. Then racing entered my world and I got caught up in the bright lights of that world. Brightly colored shirts! Shiny medals! Gu and unlimited coffee!

...whatever. I love racing and am very excited about this weekend's event. Will I run again before then? Probably. But not to prepare. I'll run because that bad run I just had reminded me that while I race, I am a Runner. I need the miles, I require the endorphin surge, and I am better for it. Racing events are just that. Events. The daily get-out-the-door is what makes a Runner. I got away from that until today, when my body overrode my brain and walked out the door and took off.

In the last blog post, there were some great responses to the question Why Do You Run? So I suppose this is mine. It is necessary. I run to keep my endorphins balanced. To feel healthy and to be strong.

I run because even the best bad run beats no run at all.