A Recipe for Love...of Running

     On the walls of my office are pictures from coaching my first running group this past fall. One of the members at the gym made a comment that I looked super happy in all of them especially for having just finished a half-marathon. He's not wrong. Even in a sweat soaked shirt, no make-up, and a bird's nest in place of where my ponytail started...I wear the biggest smile, which is a testament to how much I truly love running.
    Mornings like today remind me how that happened. After 6 years of serious running, I can honestly say I have only experienced a runner's high maybe twice. I don't run because I enjoy pushing myself, making myself vomit in exertion, or other things you hear from athletes. I like to run because stuff is pretty and my best friend is awesome. 
     Kaycee and I both have a great appreciation for the environment. To the point that I get super depressed during winter because I miss my running routes. Yes, I know winter running gear exists and it's not that bad once you get going...but it's not the same. 
     The places we run are so pretty and the conversations we have are always part weekly best friend update, part therapy session, and part just whatever weird $%*! we can think of. Our culture tends to associate food with conversation. "Oh hey I'll be in town this weekend, we should get lunch!" is an all too common statement. Why not go for a walk? There's plenty of research on the benefits of walking both physically and mentally, adding stimulating conversation only makes it better. You meet to talk anyway, why have food as a distraction?

But I digress...as a Master's of Public Health student, it's easy for me to go into cultural rants. Therefore, since Thanksgiving is coming up and everyone's talking about food... I give you My Recipe to Fall in Love with Running:

• 2 Parts GOAL
• Start with a goal. Whether it be a race or something else. Set a date and, most importantly, make a plan. There are plenty of training plans on the internet and some are actually legit. Whatever you find, allow yourself freedom. There's a fine line between not training enough and over-training, but the balance is there if you're realistic with yourself.
• 1 Part PRETTY ROUTE
• Ever heard of Frederick Law Olmsted? Most people know him for designing part of Central Park in NYC but, he also designed our park system in Louisville. We're fortunate for this in that we have safe places to run that are also absolutely gorgeous. Today's route went through one of those parks, the historic water reservoir, and this one street with dream house after dream house ( I'm also obsessed with HGTV just fyi). I know these places might not always be convenient or available to people in other cities but find a place where you can get lost in the ambiance, not in the struggle.
• 1 Part BUDDY
• Running with Kaycee is great for our Long Slow Distance (LSD) runs. Not only is it a great way to catch up (we're both very busy don't cha know) but it is an excellent way to pace. We know if we can carry on a comfortable conversation, we're right where we want to be.
• A dash of TUNES
• I love Kaycee, but sometimes it is nice to run solo to clear my head. On these days, my iPod is my savior. If you can afford something like a Spotify premium account, you'll always have new an exciting music to keep you motivated...and to cover up the sound of your own exhaustion, otherwise known as breathing.

It's not one of those relationships that hits you immediately, it develops over time. Slowly but surely, you realize how much you can't live without it, how much you need it in your life, and how much a part of you it truly becomes.

~Kirstin