TITLE: Missing the Rhythm of Running
AUTHOR: Eugene Wallingford
DATE: October 16, 2016 10:34 AM
DESC: 
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BODY:
 I ended up with an unexpected couple of hours free yesterday
 afternoon, and I decided to clean up several piles of old
 papers on the floor of my running room.  Back when I ran
 marathons, I was an information hound.  I wrote notes,
 collected maps, and clipped articles on training plans,
 strength training, stretching and exercise, diet and nutrition
 -- anything I thought I could use to get get better.  I'm sure
 this surprises many of you.

 There was a lot of dust to dig through, but the work was full
 of happy reminiscences.  It's magical how a few pieces of
 paper can activate our memories.  The happy memories leave in
 their wake a sadness, when
<A HREF="http://www.cs.uni.edu/~wallingf/blog/archives/monthly/2011-04.html#e2011-04-30T10_05_29.htm">
   my time as a runner ended</A>.
 That's when the piles stopped growing.  I stopped collecting
 material, because I wasn't running anymore.

 Fortunately, the sadness of loss didn't drown out the happy
 memories.  Instead, I started thinking about the future, which
 is really now.  These thoughts are long past due.

 Looking back through my running logs reminded of the pattern
 of my life as a marathoner.  There was an ebb and a flow to
 the year.  I trained for my first half marathon.  Then I
 trained for my first full marathon.  I ran lightly for a few
 weeks as my body recovered.  Winter and spring saw regular
 runs, but a break for mind and body alike: no big plans, just
 enjoying the road.  Then came the end of spring, and it
 started all over again: training for big races.  These years
 were filled with variety in my running, variety in my goals.

 The last few years have been different.  I recovered from
<A HREF="http://www.cs.uni.edu/~wallingf/blog/archives/monthly/2011-07.html#e2011-07-28T21_20_58.htm">
   a couple of operations</A>,
 eventually taking up the elliptical machine and
 returning to
<A HREF="http://www.cs.uni.edu/~wallingf/blog/archives/monthly/2013-05.html#e2013-05-18T12_52_15.htm">
   my bike</A>
 for fitness.  However, I have never become a cyclist in spirit
 the way I became a runner.  I've been exercising lots, staying
 fit and healthy, but I miss the rhythm of running and training
 for marathons.  In comparison, my exercise since leaves me
 bored and uninspired.

 Diving into those piles of paper yesterday started me thinking,
 what are the next goals?  I'll be working on that as we slide
 into winter, looking forward what next spring might bring.
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