I love to run. I”ve been in love with running for over 30 years now. And I don’t see any reason to break it off…it’s gotten stronger actually! Yes, I have a very understanding spouse.
Running started as a way to loose weight and keep a handle on my blood pressure. Running all these years has been successful with both. Of course when I abuse salty snacks and overeat, things go out of whack. Nothing that a concerted period of running doesn’t solve.
The one big hiccup happened about 10 years ago when I had a long stretch dealing with Plantar Fasciitis. That injury was self inflicted: At the time barefoot running was the rage and I moved too quickly to take up that style of running. It peaked at Reggae Marathon that year when I ran the Half Marathon and endured pain from the turnaround at Salt Spring Bridge. My finish line picture from that year shows a face in anguish.
I’ve had other injuries as well the most serious being fractures in bones in my feet. 6 weeks in a walking cast! No running! The first time it occurred was about 6 weeks out from another Reggae Marathon. You can see my dilemma! That year I walked the Reggae Marathon 10K in my cast. In hindsight that was not the smartest thing but I did get some great photos of the Reggae Marathon course all along the route…something I can’t do while running.
Running has been my personal therapy as well. Through those big and small life challenges I’ve kept running. Sometimes running feels like the only thing that keeps me going. It works…and is cheaper than therapy!
The biggest benefit from running though is one that I never saw coming: I’ve passed on my love of running to my kids. Two of the boys have taken up running seriously and race pretty seriously throughout. I’ve run with both of them at Reggae Marathon…OK, I’ve run in the same race with them…they are well quicker than their ‘Old Man’. But after we finish individually, we celebrate on the beach. That’s really special.
I love to run. I’ll continue to run even as I slow down and will transition to walking when it’s time. It’s been too much fun…can’t stop, won’t stop!
Until next time…
Reggae Marathon RunninGuy
