“Leisure is only possible when we are at one with ourselves. We tend to overwork as a means of self-escape, as a way of trying to justify our existence.”
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| A Summary of Running January 2015 |
An Introduction
If you are following my FB pages - Paper In Europe (where, I share how I creatively journal online, our simple life throughout the different seasons) &
Happy Feet in the Netherlands (where, I share how I run in the Netherlands, other cities in Europe, and pursue a healthy lifestyle to live a better life in spite of my issues with bipolar disorder)
- you will notice that there are more activities, than there has ever been compared to the past years.
The reason for this, I feel, is having found balance and contentment, after a series of life crisis, which did not seem to let up.
I am happier and feeling lighter in my being because I've let go of a lot of things holding me back; the running lifestyle has truly helped me let go of a lot of those things, that were not really contributing to my growth.
The fact that I could also now talk about my mental health issues more and more - openly and with confidence, I had not felt a decade ago contributes to my new found openness.
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| from my 365 Self-Portrait project in 2011 originally posted in My Daily Mooosings in the Netherlands |
Two years after we moved to our new house, we are finally getting a structure we all needed.
There is a positive flow that is inspiring me to blog more; my new found perspective of life makes the creative process more natural, and blogging is not another chore to do on top of so many daily chores!
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| This is not our house of course :D but a Nature park near our home, where we like to have picnics. When I think of the concept of home, I think of the simplicity of the bird's lives... originally posted in My Daily Mooosings in the Netherlands |
#10ThingsThursdays
This post is something I would like to do every Thursday (or when life is busy every fortnight)! For fun. Fun lists! :D
Inspired by my interactions with friends I met via Instagram ( the interactions happens more behind the scene of Instagram), I thought I can give "tips" in a humorous way.
I almost never actually ever give any "running advice" here on my blog. I feel after 3 years, I still have a lot to learn myself, and I am still committing a lot of mistakes to be an authority in running.
In the spirt of fun, though I would like to share some of the "running wisdom", which I have gained in the last 3 years. :)
It is a "learn-from-my-mistake", "I wish I did that from the very beginning" and "I'm glad I learned this early on!" kind of list.
It is in the descending order (based on it's importance & meaning to me :) ) …
All In the (and for the FUN of the) Race
List
10. Runner's have layers, and LESS of those layers is MORE focus on the race!
You can take this metaphorically or literally. For this list, I mean it literally!
You can take this metaphorically or literally. For this list, I mean it literally!
Lesson learned in my first ever (trail) race - a 5K Pink Ribbon Run organized by Mom in Balance, August, 2011 in the Amsterdamse Bos.
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| image courtesy of Mom in BalanceFB page I am the one in the yellow rain jacket. |
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| image courtesy of Mom in BalanceFB page |
My first race was a run in the rain was through the woods! I can reveal now, that I did not realise this until the day itself. hahaha
During warm-up, I felt very hot with my gear, and should have then and there left my rain, and running jacket to my husband, and ran with only my short sleeves shirt on.
In my defense, I was inexperienced, still insecure. So, I went to the start still quiet indecisive! As you can see on the image above (yellow rain jacket half worn, half off me hahaha).
In my defense, I was inexperienced, still insecure. So, I went to the start still quiet indecisive! As you can see on the image above (yellow rain jacket half worn, half off me hahaha).
I'm glad that I learned this lesson, quiet early on (after 3 weeks of running, and in my first race…).
Even now, I am reminded each time I start a run, that it makes a huge difference if you are not distracted (by things, thoughts etc), and do not have unnecessary "load" to carry with you - it makes the running experience much better.
Even now, I am reminded each time I start a run, that it makes a huge difference if you are not distracted (by things, thoughts etc), and do not have unnecessary "load" to carry with you - it makes the running experience much better.
9. Smile, smile, smile on the way to the finish line…
…even if you are exhausted, at the back of the pack, (almost) last…and you do not know what the speaker is saying (since you are too tired to listen properly!)….SMILE!
When you look back at the finish line pictures of you smiling, you will be filled with good memories.
…even if you are exhausted, at the back of the pack, (almost) last…and you do not know what the speaker is saying (since you are too tired to listen properly!)….SMILE!
When you look back at the finish line pictures of you smiling, you will be filled with good memories.
I would also say from experience, the photographers love a smiling runner; you'll end up with more shots to choose from. Even if you perhaps - like me - take screen shots of those pictures and "almost never" order copies.
8. Don't forget the lipstick/balm . . .
or your SMILE will be dry. Literally. :D
People beside you will definitely "outshine" you with their smile, if you are not prepared! Well, you won't mind, in the long run, I know! Nevertheless, it is great when you look good together or in a group to not distract you from enjoying a remembrance from an otherwise great event.
I love this picture below because I met awesome Dutch, and international runners. The runner in costume, I learned later on is a 2 and 1/2 hour marathon runner (hope I remember that right!). If he can look pretty, I can make an effort to look decent, too. Lip balm/stick makes a whole lot of difference. hahaha
Lesson learned from my first (6 km) Good Morning City Run, October, 2011.
This is a run offered by the Tourist Run Amsterdam, a day before the Amsterdam Marathon.
7. Part your legs…WIDE! Lift it higher! Strike a Pose (if you are so inclined!)!
It is all in the stride, and striking a pose...
This was the first "major" race I ran.
It was my childhood dream and running goal to experience running to the finish line in the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium.
The whole experience was very memorable, that my husband bought a CD of the race photos for me.
The pictures of my finish in the Olympic Stadium, showed me my stride, and how it differs from those experienced runners. You have to train consistently, or you won't be strong enough to lift your legs higher, and acquire an efficient running form.
Great race photos as a result of all the hard work makes the effort worthwhile. :)
Before and after the race, you take photos for posterity, too. Well, at least most of the runners (bloggers!), I know have this as their ritual.
I learned early on to not just stand straight but to part my legs to show a bit of "shape".
It is NOT that important.
But if you are like me, who looks at archived pictures of the past to get motivated in the present, you better strike a pose by parting your legs a bit to give your leg shape and definition… :D
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| PARTED! |
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| NOT PARTED….see the difference? :D |
A short look back to how I began lifting my leg higher and higher, recorded on finish line pictures:
Eventually, you'll be more creative and discover your perfect leg pose! I am still searching for mine…believe it or not! :D
6. START a Journal and/or blog your running story from the VERY beginning!
This is a lesson categorized under, "I wish I did this more diligently!"
I created Happy Feet in the Netherlands the blog, January 2012. 5 months after I began with running. At the beginning I stored my initial running stories @ My Daily Mooosings in the Netherlands.
When I look back at my blogs, a part of me wished, I wrote more.
Currently my most used mantra is: until I can do better, I'll do what I can.
I should have ohmmmed this mantra in 2011!
This is what I learned, and keep trying to remind myself:
Don't be afraid to make mistakes; don't be afraid to perhaps appear silly; do not over-think the process of blogging - thinking you might be "too open" in the world wide web, when you write as beginner runner.
You'll be SO HAPPY, when you look back, read and reminisce because there would be a stark contrast, and so much change, even only after a year of pursuing a running lifestyle. There will be positive changes, and looking how it has evolved will always motivate you to keep moving forward.
What you write now will remain a motivation for the future.
I have no regrets, that I did not listen most of the time to my instincts of not over-thinking the process. I learned my lessons, and I am catching up now. :) I still over-think but I do the things I feel I have to do anyway, even if it seems at first glance "self-indulgent"…writing how I feel, what I have experienced. Hindsight is always a good friend in many situations, and I keep that in mind.
I hope with this tip, I can save you the "I wish I did it from the beginning" headache.
5. Networking widens the running horizons!
If you are a runner, even if you will mostly run solo at the beginning, eventually you would want to run with other people to keep you motivated, or have a network to share experiences, and learn more about running and get to know more events.
It would be handy to keep a blog with a memorable name, so you could give it to people you meet in the events. For me blogs are almost like a modern "calling card".
During an event you meet so many people, interesting, inspiring, some are very social, and others shy.
But events can also be hectic, and having a blog can help people you meet recall who you are, and contact you again.
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| Running beside a nice lady I had a chat with at the starting line... Oh… I was reminded here of the Lesson No. 10 of this list! :D Vondelpark Run 2012 |
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| At the AMSTERDAM Running Junkies HQ February, 2012 |
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| Wan Man & Anoek I "met" them on Twitter, initially Here we are at the very first Nike Run Club RunSeptember, 2012 They were and remain the most active Nikeplus users, I know! |
4. Don't get mad, get creative!
Lesson learned in Running Year 2013
ALL runners go through challenges, obstacles, frustrations, and disappointments.
One of the worst scenario, which happened to me after a productive year (2011-2012), was getting injured in 2013, my private life screamed for attention at the same time, that I had to let go of goals I set for that year, and completely change plans laid out.
Life does NOT end,when you can't run (for a certain - even, unknown! - period).
Even those, who sadly lose their legs, or are born without - they FIND A WAY! They move on or occupy themselves with something productive. The runners, who are more determined, they find a way to run again in spite of the odds and disabilities.
So please, READ & PRACTICE No. 4 on this list, when you are going through tough times.
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| I took a lot of photos during biking rides, when I was recovering from my Morton Neuroma and blogged about it @ The Lightness of Being on the Bike |
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| …I ran barefoot to keep sane... |
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| …when I finally got new insoles, I waited until the pain was gone... |
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| …while I waited, I blog about other runners! |
3. BE YOUR OWN motivation!
Lesson learned in Running Year 2013
I created a lot of motivational posters of myself for myself while I was going through the recovery period of my injury.
I could run. But I could not push harder. I needed to learn again what it was all about: why I begun running; what made me dream of running; why I wanted to continue, and what will motivate me to move on...
It too A YEAR to accept, who I truly was as a runner.
The ironic thing is, the runner I had to accept was the runner that brought me at the start of my first race in the first place!
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| Celebrating my new pair of shoes, my insoles in them and running pain free once again! |
2. Occasionally… let your hair down!
Not to be taken literally - well yeah, sometimes you should … :)
But what I mean is the lesson I learned in Running Year 2013 & Running 2014:
DON'T BE AFRAID to get out of your comfort zone, and face the races you fear, or do something you think will make you stand out.
Races are serious stuff for many runners but races are also an opportunity to celebrate this passion you share with other runners.
So from time to time go to a race not with a PR in mind but just to enjoy the experience, the atmosphere and the wonderful fact that you can do what others only dream of or what others still aspire to do.
1. The most IMPORTANT lesson, I learned: DON'T TAKE YOURSELF OR RUNNING TOO SERIOUSLY! :D
Running has always been used as a metaphor for life. As with life, if we take running TOO seriously, we missed or forget the fun parts, or forget why or what made us dream of it and what or why we began in the first place.
These finish line pictures of my 3rd consecutive year of running Marikenloop (May, 2014) has a funny anecdote. :) When I look at it, I laugh because I no longer think of my "inability" to run a 10K in an hour (after 3 years or funning) but this picture tells the story, that I was in Nijmegen with my family, and that it was a great run!
You can read about the funny anecdote behind the picture on the next edition of #10ThingsThursday!
Hope you had fun reading, as I had making this list, and recalling lessons I've learned!
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If I can run, so can you: big dreams are reached with baby steps!