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A meme or quote exists for almost everything. Search for “meme + (insert anything under the sun here)” and something will pop up. And yes, I did actually search for “meme + anything under the sun” and came up with tons of images!

I get memes. They can be funny, silly, or inspiring. But sometimes they can be wrong.

For instance, there are a lot of memes about looking back that are intended to be inspiring: “Don’t look back. You aren’t going that way” “The past is the past.  Move forward and don’t look back” and in the theme of running “Sometimes in life you need to run fast, run far and don’t look back.” Sure, these make sense in some contexts, but not in all.  And that last meme was not written by a runner, I bet!

Some runners keep diaries of their runs, or enter such data into apps.  Why? To be able to look back and either see how far they have come, but also to learn what worked in their training and what didn’t work so well.

I don’t keep a running diary but I do post some of my experiences on social media. An experience happened recently with social media that highlighted the value of looking back.

A month ago I was on the last 32 km training run before a marathon and at 28 km I mentioned to my running buddy that “I feel like an imposter. I don’t feel like a runner. How am I going to finish the marathon?” She replied “Welcome to my world.”  She felt the same thing. When I got home, deflated, one of those social media “memories” I had written automatically popped up and was waiting for me. That memory was from exactly one year earlier, in the same stage of training. In that earlier post I said that I felt like an imposter and didn’t know how I would finish the upcoming marathon! 

I realized then, for the first time, that running is a series of cycles. Start training…. feel yourself getting stronger…. getting faster…. longer distances…. oh, I don’t think I can do this…. why am I doing this?….I’m an imposter….complete the race….rest….start training….

Once I realized I had been through this deflated, self-sabotaging inner talk at each previous training session, I felt better.  I reflected on the fact that in the end I had finished all my races and that my body had held up remarkably well in each instance.  As had my mind.

I took that opportunity of looking back to look forward.

Now I know that I will feel the same “imposter syndrome” near the end of the next training session.  It will still be hard, but it will be a natural occurrence, and I’ll know that I can overcome it and push on.  Sometimes we need to look back.  Sometimes it’s the only way to greet what’s coming.  Keep moving forward, but don’t forget to look back, theoretically speaking that is.  We don’t want any injuries from running into inanimate objects!

Run Your Happy!

If you run, you probably have the odd idea pop into your head. Stress on the word “odd.” I think this happens to all runners whether you run alone or in a group. Chances are that more ideas come to the surface the longer the run.  I run with a solid group of friends and we have chatted about almost everything you can imagine during long runs.

We are comfortable in expressing what’s on our minds, and not too embarrassed to speak what we are thinking, no matter how off-the-wall it is.

We have had lots of “interesting” ideas and potential inventions come up during runs. Running clears the mind.  It creates a space for imagination. It’s sometimes a bit like that half-awake/half-asleep state where you are starting to dream and your mind wanders to strange places.

The first idea that I can remember popping up was during one of the first hot days of the spring and we felt as though we had over-dressed for the occasion. Like wearing a parka to a tropical beach wedding.

The idea that day was edible running clothes. Yup, edible running clothes.

Think about it: you need to shed a jacket, a neck warmer, long running pants, a hat. You need carbs and electrolytes. Why not wear your nutrition?

Lend your mind’s eye to this: at 5 km you realize you wore too many layers. A quick rip. Eat your sleeves.  They dissolve in your mouth, providing carbs. At 10 km, there goes the rest of your jacket. A shot of electrolytes. At 20 km your pant legs. You arrive at your destination both refreshed and cooler. Such efficiency!

The downside to all of this is the fact that you need to try it before long runs to make sure you have no unwanted “digestive problems” during the actual run (this benefits your running buddies as well!), and this trial period could be expensive using up clothes which need to be re-purchased for subsequent cold weather runs.  And, jacket zippers stuck in your gullet could slow your time. And what about allergies?

We thought this idea was incredible. Implausible perhaps, but incredible from the point of view of such a novel idea, and it was enjoyable to talk about. Just as the run was enjoyable, as it always is with friends. 

Wait, did I say implausible? The 2019 London marathon experimented with edible water packets on-course.  But our little running group had the idea first by a couple of years. 

What could have been!  And if you do decide to go for it and develop edible running clothes, please give a shout out to the Run Your Happy Blog (after you get regulatory approval for the product, that is….!).

Run Your Happy!

A short conclusion to “A Spring in Your Step” parts 1, 2, and 3.

The word “spring” has different meanings, but they all relate to running. And just as running parallels life in so many ways, these meanings mirror what we often face in life.

Sometimes renewal is needed, sometimes we have to overcome and reshape things back to our normal selves or to become better, and sometimes we reach deep within ourselves to pull out our dreams and accomplishments.  The common thread of all these meanings is transition. Transition is almost constant in life, and a necessary action in running. Take the opportunity to renew, recharge, remold and dig deep. With effort and time, you will find what you are looking for. In running. In life.

Thanks for joining me in exploring the meaning of “spring.” I enjoyed writing about it and I hope you got something out of it as well. Now you know what comes next:

Run Your Happy!

“Spring” the Bubbling Source of Water

When I thought of the word “spring” it was initially the season and the metal spring that came to mind (see parts 1 and 2 of “A Spring in Your Step”). It later dawned on me that there is another meaning of the word: a natural source of water coming from the earth. And once I thought of that I was thinking: “Great, how do I fit that in with running?” The obvious thought I had was something to do with hydration (yes, most of my thoughts immediately relate to running…don’t yours?).

And then I realized that a spring of water relates directly to the notions of transition I’ve written about in parts 1 and 2.

The water in a spring changes from being deep in the earth to being on the surface of the ground. From unseen to seen. From abstract to real.

We often have specific goals in running, of course, which may range from learning to run to racing an ultra-marathon. It doesn’t matter what the goal is – the seed of a thought is planted for whatever reason. If there is more than a passing interest in the objective, a plan is devised on how to achieve it.

As it turns out, we often need to reach deep within ourselves, to trust ourselves, and to stay true to the course of training before we reach the goal. The water knows how to get where it wants to go, and it pushes around rocks, tree roots and other obstacles to get to the surface. Don’t tell me there is not an allusion to running in that thought!

Just as the water can reach the surface, your goal can also transition from an inner thought to the reality of achieving it given the time and energy you need.  And the same is true in life.

Pushing through hardship, doubt, or whatever challenge we face can often be overcome. We have inner strength (usually more than we admit) that we can harvest as one aid in getting back to our old happier selves, or to transform ourselves into something new and better.

Flow like the water and your goals will change from mere thoughts to concrete achievements.  And there may be medal to prove it.

Run Your Happy!

In the next very short post, we’ll bring A Spring in Your Step, parts 1, 2 and 3 together.

Part Two: “Spring,” the Twisty Metal Thing

Running is like the tightly coiled spring on your car’s suspension. Except cleaner, I hope, with less grease.

A “spring” is something that is able to be deformed by a force or stress and then return to its original shape once the force is removed. In addition, most of the energy put into compressing the spring is returned when it’s released from the compression. Kind of like running!

In terms of “deformation,” I have never met a runner that has not had some minor niggles and aches. Sometimes these require minor physiotherapy or massage while continuing to run, and many will just end up resolving themselves. Then there are the more serious injuries which require more serious treatment, and heaven forbid, stopping running for a while. But it’s rare that an injury is serious enough for runners to quit altogether.

We need running and we can spring back into shape despite ourselves. I know this well.

I’m actually coming off a running injury. When it was diagnosed, I thought I’d be off the road for a good long time. However, with help from professionals, a reduced running schedule for a while (which caused havoc with my ego, I admit), and the encouragement of my valued running buddies, I’m bouncing back. 

Runners often put themselves under loads of physical and mental stress by expending a colossal amount of energy from both muscle and brain. That energy we put into running we get back out, just like a spring. Our energy comes back to us in the shape of a goal race or other accomplishment we set out to achieve (like running 5 km for the first time). We know we can do it – with the necessary energy expenditure and training, putting in the effort now for maximum effect later.

And let’s face it: a run often makes us feel 100% better – mentally that is – I’m not sure that applies to feeling better physically immediately after a long run! The energy we put into running can directly support our mental health.  Physical energy transformed into mental health benefits. We will look into this in more depth in a separate post.

Like a compressed spring, all that effort and energy you expend now will come back to you when you need it!

Run Your Happy!

In the next post, we’ll take a look at “Spring,” the Bubbling Source of Water

Language is odd—especially the English language, so I’m told. Words spelled the same can have dramatically different meanings. As it is now “spring” in this part of the world, I began to consider how this season influences runners, but then my mind wandered to consider the other meanings of the word. You might find a spring by a spring in the spring. Or not. However, you may find that the variety of meanings have a lot to do with running, and even life itself.

Part One: “Spring,” the Season

For us in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s spring. The cold weather is changing to much warmer days and optimism is in the air.

It’s one of my favorite times of the year: I feel anticipation and excitement, hope for more sunshine, a yearn to run without multiple layers (base-layer, long-sleeved shirt, short-sleeved shirt, jacket, neck-warmer, balaclava, hat, hood…you get the idea). With all the extra weight of multiple layers, winter running is a bit like weight training and running at the same time. And you run the risk of being viewed with suspicion, looking like thieves: “Officer, there’s a group of hoodlums running away, wearing balaclavas and skin-tight leggings!” 

You don’t have to live in the cold parts of the world, however, to appreciate why the spring season brings with it such feelings of hope and anticipation. It’s the concept of renewal and transition that’s important.

In cold climes, you may have slogged on a treadmill inside during a hard winter, and now it’s time to look forward to switching things up to run outside on the road, paved path, or trail, or you may have contended with snow and ice such that a five km run used up as much energy as if you had run twenty. No matter where you live, you may have been nursing a running injury and are hoping to get back on the road sooner rather than later.

You may be worn out from the anxiety of a pandemic or have faced personal hardship, grief, or other challenges to your mental health and are looking ahead for better days.

Spring is a transition to the sun on our shoulders and brings with it hope for revitalization and renewal. We may not always think this but—as runners—we have an inherent ability to overcome challenges, whether that be the mental burden we face at the thirty-five km mark of a marathon, or simply getting out the door some days to go for a short run.

Runners often have far more mental strength than we admit.

The change in seasons should be a reminder that things can always get better, pain and injury can be overcome, and we can find inner strength to carry on in the face of adversity.

Just think of how many times you’ve thought, “I can’t finish this run. I don’t have the strength,” but you pulled it off all the same. Confession: I have self-defeating thoughts during many of my long runs. But I can’t recall ever actually cutting a run short, even though my brain has tried to stop me!

Like the hope, renewal, and revitalization that is the promise of the spring season, we can choose to be optimistic in running and in life. Restoration and revival can be ahead despite your current challenges.

Spring always arrives. Keep the faith! Keep hitting the road! 

Run Your Happy!

Next time we’ll look at a runner’s perspective on “Spring,” the Twisty Metal Thing.