Don't Do Anything Hard Alone
Photo: Chasing, Diana F+
I think it's fair to say I had a couple things going on as a kid. School was pretty easy for me--reading, math, spelling. But I don't think I ever got any friends out of being good at spelling. It was my weakness that was the most bonding part of my schooling--gym class. I could never figure out what went wrong for me in the physical department. It was like all the other kids had some private lesson in how to run that I had missed, or that they were just born knowing how. One time, the gym teacher even tried teaching me how to run, and it failed. Any time we ran laps or the outside track, I was there at the end.
Rope climbing was the worst. Did you have those? Giant ropes trailing all the way to the ceiling beams and a big knot at the base. Other kids would grab that thing and shimmy up it effortlessly. I don't think I ever got three feet off the ground, and usually came down with rope burns all over my hands and legs.
Luckily I wasn't the only one at the end of the line when it came to running. That's how I became friends with the asthmatic kids. Best friends. My best friend in fourth grade, Amy C., had asthma, and she was just my speed. Unfortunately, I didn't have any diagnosis to excuse my slowness. I was just lame.
It's funny how these things form our view of ourselves over time until decades later we're still saying things like "I can't cook." Or certainly for me, "I'll never be a runner." I have plenty of these ugly duckling carry-overs from my youth, and the time has come to turn this one in.
I've been fantasizing about running for the last few months, even busting out bursts here and there on the street when I couldn't resist the urge any longer. Then recently my sister sent me this cool program where you can gently go from a couch potato to running 5K in 9 weeks. She said she was going for it. I'm never one to do a hard thing alone, so I jumped at the chance to rewrite this story right along with her. It's been so fun to talk on the phone and talk about what we were nervous about or proud of, and hear the other one say, Me, TOO!
It reminds me of the same energy I had doing the Portfolio Project with Jen. Having a running partner when you're stretching into an area of challenge, an area of fear, or just rewriting an old story from the past can be the very thing that keeps you going when you'd quit, if it was only up to you.
Monday, May 11, 2009 at 8:42AM | Share Article 5 Comments | Email Article Print Article | Permalink | in creative work
Reader Comments (5)
Jen, I'm a recent covert to running and feel almost evangelical about it! I hope you find it as fun and challenging as I have. I think it's the best way ever to clear your head.
woot! thanks for being my partner in this. i am so excited to be doing this with you. feels so good. hopefully we'll get a chance to run together when we come for christmas. xoxo
running will fuel you in so many ways. it is a beautiful friend on a stressful day. it encourages you to go places you never thought you could. have fun with it! from one non athletic child to a grown up runner - if I can do it ANYONE can. ciao!
i wish i could go from couch potato to runner extraordinaire with you! that sounds like so much fun. right now, i'm just perfecting my rolypolyness!
this post made me smile because i dreaded p.e. as a kid, but about 5 years ago, i started running. i had a roommate who signed us up for a 5K which seemed like running an olympic race to me at that point, but it ended up being such a great experience. anyway, now i actually look forward to running through my neighborhood in the evenings...i love the perspective it gives you and it gives me time to dream and think. okay, i'll stop rambling now but just wanted to encourage you. i have to echo Nadia and say, 'if I can do it, anyone can' because, yeah, it's true.
:-)