The Long Run
The Long Run August 5, 2011
Well, it’s August, it’s marathon training season here on the east coast, where runners from all walks of life are getting ready for fall marathon season…the time of year with the best suited conditions to run 26.2 miles. Crisp, cool air, beautiful scenery, nothing but our own thoughts illuminating our mind, smitten by mother nature’s endorphins. I’m not training for a marathon this year, but a marathoner’s perspective always takes me by surprise, even when I’m the one giving the perspective. A lot of people ask me “are you still running?” and my answer is usually “no, not really.” But wait, let me clarify that answer, “no not really” actually means, yes, I am still running, but I’m not running 80 miles a week to train for a marathon. So, from my one-sided, narrow focused marathoner perspective, the answer is no. No I’m not running 80 miles a week right now, and I haven’t been for several months. Deep breath. Open your mind you narrow minded alpha-type.
I suddenly got busy with all kinds of things this summer as we all do, and nearly forgot to stop and smell the roses while I was out for a run. Luckily a friend recently reminded me to do so. Thank you dear friend. People come into and out of your life at different times for different reasons. I whole-heartedly believe that everything in life happens for a reason. Every encounter, everyone you meet, everything has a purpose. It’s only when we look back that we are reminded of how to move forward.
The answer is yes; yes, of course I’m still running. I run 4 days, give or take 30 miles a week, but that…to a marathoner…is not real training. Ok. I’m still running, I’m just not training. I choose to respect the distance. Realize that just a few minutes of exercise outdoors each day can boost your mood and your self-esteem. Outdoor workouts also tend to burn more calories and “seem” less exhausting than an indoor workout, such as at the gym. It has been proven by research that people who live close to a park or a garden are less likely to get sick than those who don’t, and they are also more satisfied with their job, their home, and their life in general. Because of nature’s calming effects, researchers also believe that people who exercise outdoors regularly have more energy and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. On a side note: Dear foam roller inventor man, thank you, thank you ten times over. I sponsored Run For The Ages in Nolde Forest this year! Run it on September 5, 2011. So, in the long run, or on your next long run, just open your eyes, your heart, and your mind. Feel the rush; feel the glory. Be thankful for your health and your family. In the long run, that’s all that really matters anyway.
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Kate Murray is a web & graphic designer, creator of Vogue Media & Managing Partner of Triumph Virtual Media, an e-marketing strategy firm in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Her dynamic style is influenced mostly by her family, but also by her travels, 10+ years in the corporate financial services industry, and by her ability to genuinely connect with people. Kate has the unique ability to introduce aesthetically pleasing design alongside innovative programing to create a user interface that is both beautiful and functional. She received her Master's of Business Administration in 2003 and her Bachelor of Science in Communication in 1996. 