Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Having Fun Again

I am 9 days away from turning 37 and yet lately I have felt more like a kid than I have in a long time. I've been having fun.

I first noticed it a couple of weeks ago on a short 10 mile bike ride with Joe. He is usually such a stronger biker than me but he was having an off day so we were more evenly matched. As we were racing across an intersection I laughed. I have no idea why. The next Sunday we went for an early mroning ride before the traffic came. At one point we were going down Rea Road, usually avoided becuase of cars, and I realized I was close to reaching 35mph. I decided I wanted to hit it so really pushed. I only got to 31...but I felt exilerated. Last Sunday we did the same Rea Road Route and this time I knew to start my push to 35 sooner. I still didn't hit it, only reached 33.9, but again I found myself smiling like a big dork. I was having fun. Yesterday I was feeling good during my run and found myself running as fast as I possibly could for the last little bit. It was downhill and I stopped thinking about my breathing pattern or time and just RAN.

It's so easy to get caught up in the routine of life. I get up, go to work, come home, have dinner, watch TV, go to bed and do it all over again. The weeks run into each other with nothing more than the same old same old. I'm not complaining...there is something comforting about being content in the sameness of life, but it is good to make sure that life isn't ONLY that. I've been battling injuries and beating myself up because I haven't been able to reach goals I'd sent for myself. The past few weeks have been really good for me and have reminded me the real reason I ride or run or get out with friends: it's fun.