Saturday’s long run was one of those runs that I think can be defined as being “banged out.” There was no high point or low point, but pretty consistent splits throughout and I felt strong.
I ran my usual Central Park/Riverside Park loops, and even though it’s familiar to me and I love it, I am getting a little sick of its predictability. Sometimes running feels easier when I have no idea where I’m going or exploring a new place. Good thing next weekend’s long run will take place in the Bronx!
When I got home, I did the usual stretching, refueling: fresh peach, grapes, walnuts and honey over Greek yogurt
And ice bathing:
Since I’m far too cheap to buy bags of ice each week, I usually just fill the tub with cold water and ice from about 5 trays that I have. It melts a little quicker, but I think it still does the trick. My legs felt a lot less sore all day and I was able to walk around NYC like a fully functional human being.
Recently, Meggie and I discovered our mutual love for gymnastics. We were both gymnasts for many years and keep up on the sport as much as we can, so we made grand plans to watch the national championships at my apartment on Saturday night.
But first…
We needed to get our 16 Handles fix. Obviously.
It was awesome to hang with someone that “got” gymnastics, and just watching it on TV brought back tons of old memories.
On my recovery run this morning, I was still thinking about the competition and how gymnastics was once a HUGE part of my life.
I never thought I would love any sport as much as I loved gymnastics.
I also thought I’d always be able to do a round-off, back handspring, double-full. HA.
But gymnastics isn’t a sport you can do forever. It basically beats the crap out of you.
It’s funny how cough eleven cough years can change things. Even though the sport taught me a lot and I have (mostly) great memories from it, sometimes I forget I ever was a gymnast.
And interestingly, sometimes it feels like I’ve always been a runner, and I can’t imagine loving a sport any more than I love running.
It’s a different kind of love, though. With gymnastics, I was good. My goal was always to be perfect and win. And I did. Part of my love for the sport came from the medals, trophies and success I had.
With running, I’m pretty sure I’ll never win. Or come close to winning. In fact, the only person that probably cares that I run at all is me.
And I kind of love that. I can run for enjoyment, I can run to PR in a race, I can train hard for a marathon. I can run for whatever the hell reason I want. And I usually always want to run.
So even though running is something I’ll never technically “excel” at, it makes me feel awesome every day. And if winning against myself counts, then I do it multiple times per week 🙂
Question: Is running your first sport? Why do you run?
That’s so true. Nobody cares if I run but me. I do it just because of how it makes me feel both during and after a run. I’ve never been athletic, but I do have a few medals and trophies for first in my age group. But even when I don’t win, I just want to keep running.
My sister was a gymnast forever so I love the sport too! So fun to watch on tv and during the olympics. I played soccer in grade school but cross country was my first school sport in the 7th grade.
Interesting post. Gymnastics is such a competitive sport. It doesn’t seem like a sport someone can do for fun. I guess that’s what makes it so different from running. It’s hard to sustain that competitive streak year after year. After a while it can get exhausting. With running, sure, there is a competitive element also but it’s not about trophies. The competition is more with yourself. That’s why I like to run.
great run this weekend! i hear you on the routine runs… i’m running in the bronx next weekend too! haven’t decided yet how i’ll add 7 more miles for 20 though…
and ice baths are the best. if you have a bodega near you that delivers, they’ll bring it to your apt! gotta love nyc…
Fantastic long run! Those splits are crazy awesome.
Running wasn’t my first sport – I think I tried everything else and was good, but just mediocre in the grand scheme of things. And even though I’m a veryyyy mediocre runner, I’ve never felt better at another sport.
And you’re so right – with running, you don’t have to win a race to feel like you’re a winner.
I have three sports loves – gymnastics, tennis, and running. Gymnastics is the original though – I started asking to take gymnastics when I was two! If I didn’t knock my teeth out/get stress fractures, I would’ve continued past age 12. I love being able to keep up with it though AND found someone who knows about [ageless] Tim and Elfi’s DRAMATIC commentary!!! “That balance check — this is a disaster!” Memories. We’ll have to go to Chelsea Piers together AFTER the marathon if my body can hold up to it.
Tennis is my middle child – I love it and hate it. I love hitting the crap out of the ball, playing matches, etc — tennis really makes me thing and tennis is kind of like “my thing” since I played it in college and such. What I hate about tennis is the cheating, the cattiness, the heartbreak of losses and such, its an emotionally charged sport, at least for me. I do love being out there by myself, figuring “it” out, relying on myself, motivating myself, yelling at myself – I miss that and running gives me some of those things.
Running is my “suprise!” child I never knew I would have. I never in a million years thought I’d be completely obsessed with running and truly enjoy it. I run because its gives me satisfaction, structure, something to strive for — too many reasons to enumerate! I love the weird feeling of being in pain but enjoying it ie racing.
But, I mean, come one – no sport is as cool as gymnastics! Giant-giant-flyaway > marathon. 🙂
I love this comment. Running is kind of like my surprise child too. We are so going to Chelsea Piers in November! Giants were my absolute favorite – I only wish I could still do them now 🙂
Very true and perfectly put. I grew up playing a lot of sports, but I always felt pressure to “win.” With running, just lacing up is a win for me; no one else really cares if I run, long long I run or how fast I run and I like the fact that it’s something personal to me.
Cheerleading was my first sport…all the way through college. I LOVED it. I started running basically because I could no longer cheer (and I never had time to give running a shot). Now I love running way more, which shocks me!
Great job on the 16-miler…nice splits! I have to laugh…I ran 15 this morning and had the same average pace!
hehe, nice running!! I know, I can’t believe that I love running more than gymnastics sometimes!
I was a dancer when I was younger. I never considered it a sport. Even when I started using a gym, I went straight to the elliptical, and feared running. I eventually started running, slow at first, and was surprised that I liked it. Slowly, I increased my speed and added on miles. For the first time, I watched muscles form in my legs. It makes me feel strong, and powerful. Even when coming over small injuries here and there, I am drawn right back to it. Running has taught me more lessons about life then would have ever imagined. I still find it weird to consider myself an ‘athlete’, but I love calling myself a ‘runner’.
I love talking to people who were serious athletes as children and hearing how they approach athletics. As a theater junkie, I never had that do-or-die competitive outlet. To that extent, I think running as an adult has changed, or at least enhanced my personality in terms of competition and desire to succeed. I also feel much more in control of my well-being and mood now that I run.
Aww I love this post! I did gymnastics for 10 years and always thought I’d be able to do my “tricks” on demand like I once did. This body can’t do anything anymore! And I feel the same about running….I feel like it’s always been inside me. So glad to meet another former gymnast turned runner!
i dig this post. as a former (not so great) gymnast, i feel like gymnastics is one of those sports that’s not at all sustainable – let’s face it, post-puberty (or post heyyy i’m gonna eat enough to grow boobs-stage), it’s really hard to be really good at it. running, however, you can continue throughout bodily changes and in a non-high school setting. and because the sport is so individualized, i agree it’s that much more rewarding for the general population. (not general pop = olympians and such.)
Before I started running, I wasn’t really the athletic type at all. My sister and I went to tennis day camps for a few summers and while it was fun, I was never that good at it.
Lately I’ve been getting a ton of comments along the lines “I should start running so that I can be skinny like you.” This pisses me off (I’ve thought about writing a post about it…too controversial?) because I run to be healthy, to feel strong and for the sense of accomplishment– NOT to be thin.
I love gymnastics and it was such a part of my childhood too until I found track. I hear you on the “only one who cares about my running is me” part but that makes our sport so great because its a competition with yourself. I’m glad you and Meg had fun!
i love those frosted animal crackers so much – good froyo topping choice!
i dabbled in ballet, baton twirling, and basketball as a kid, but never really took it seriously. it wasn’t until i started running in track in high school that i finally stuck with something. the great thing about running is that even if you don’t have a ton of natural talent, if you work had, you *will* get better. and you can compete against yourself – setting a new PR counts as winning in my book 🙂
that was supposed to be *work hard (not work had)
but if you want, you can just pretend i was speaking with a Bahhhston accent 🙂
I just love qymnastics! I’m not a gymnast unless you count the class I took when I was four that I cried the entire way through because I missed my mommy…
BUT my best friend from home was a club gymnast and pretty hardcore. I watch a lot of meets! And I LOVE watching it on TV!! My friend was at nationals all weekend. She said the juniors were really amazing.. too bad we don’t get to see them.
It’s so funny because I don’t have a sport! I played tennis in highschool but was not really that into it. I didn’t realize I could run until highschool!
i like this post a lot. i always forget that you did gymnastics for so long, and i think it’s great that you’ve been able to discover another sport that you’ve become just as devoted to.
i did ballet for 12 years – i dabbled in other forms of dance and my dad had me on softball teams until i was 12, but the only thing i ever truly cared about was ballet. i wasn’t great, but i worked hard and saw improvement, and i really think having a home at the barre is what got me through all the angst of being of a teen. i always knew ballet was just something i did for fun, and that’s an approach i’ve carried with me into my adult life – no matter the form of exercise, i do it because it makes me feel awesome, and i know if i work hard and treat myself well, i will keep getting better.
Nice long run, Kelly!
I love hearing about what led people to running and what they did before. I can see how running is very different from gymnastics, both physically & mentally.
Growing up I always participated in various sports, but never had a competitive drive or loved anything enough to try to stick with it by the time high school rolled around. I started to love running in college and haven’t looked back since then.
I totally agree about what you said about being able to run for fun / against yourself, because it’s a sport that really isn’t about beating other people (unless you’re elite). For that reason I think it fits with my mindset/personality really well.
I danced until I was 14. For two years, I did both dancing and track, but my practice schedules conflicted too much and I chose running. Never looked back!