Who knew a simple piece of fabric could cause me to reflect so deeply on running?
While surfing the internet the other day, I saw a sweatband that was emblazoned with the phrase “I love running, I hate running” over and over again.
I immediately identified with it. All those years in college of huffing behind my best friend and boyfriend (who had both run cross country in high school) told me I wasn’t a ‘real’ runner. I found no enjoyment in running back then. I hurriedly put the headband (I’ve been looking for sweatbands for awhile now) in my online shopping cart and selected my fabric color.
Moments later, I thought back to my previous actions. Did I really still have a love/hate relationship with running?
I thought about it. I thought some more. And then it hit me.
No, I didn’t. I really only love it. Truly. Are there mornings I don’t really want to work out? Sure. Are there good runs and bad runs? Of course. But the nagging feeling of dread that used to haunt me before leaving for a run is gone. Long gone. I’m not sure when it left, but it’s nothing more than a distant memory.
I clicked back into my shopping cart and hit ‘remove’ on that particular headband and selected a purple “Will Run for Ice Cream” headband instead. Because if THAT doesn’t describe me to a “T,” I don’t know what does. If only it had come in teal…
thehealthypineapple 