Runners are Flexible

Yes, runners are flexible.. but this post probably isn't referring to the "flexible" you're thinking of. Sure, most of us are physically flexible, but we also need to be metaphorically flexible with our schedules, plans, and well, life.

Case in point: The canceling of my Half Marathon. I had planned to run a half marathon on March 11th in Asbury Park, NJ to conclude my last Spring Break of my college career. I started my training, I was becoming excited to race 13.1 miles, and honestly, I couldn't stop thinking about the idea of crossing that finish line. But then, I found out that "my half" had been canceled for this year.

Womp. Bummer. Almost cried.

That's what happens when you get dedicated to something that is no longer happening. I can only equate it to heartbreak. What a romantic view on something not romantic at all.. but that's how my mind works.

But, because I am a runner, I know how to deal with heartbreak, disappointment, and changes of plans. I run. But before I did, I found Plan B. After striking out trying to find another half happening somewhere close and around mid-March, I went to Nittany Valley Run, a site that catalogs all the races in the State College area all year-long. And there it was - a 10-miler happening on March 25th right down the road in Spring Mills.

YES!!! What a perfect mid-training race to get me ready for a half! It's close, it's scenic, some of it is gravel road, and the registration fee helps out the Penns Valley track and field teams! I am, needless to say, extremely excited to run this race.

 So while training officially started two weeks ago and I hit a 6-mile best on Wednesday, my goals have been tweaked just a bit. I will still be increasing my max mileage one mile each week, but I can also work a little on my speed now. By March 25th I hope to finish the 10-miler AND finish with a respectable time. Maybe around 1 hr and 40 mins. We'll see.

Regardless, I bounced right back. I might have been initially disappointed and thrown off course, but I figured it out, I went for a nice recovery run (3.61 miles today) and now I feel GREAT.

Moral of the story.. runners are flexible because they run!