It's Addictive

People say that crack cocaine is the most addictive thing.  But, it might just be running.   Once you step off the treadmill and venture out onto the roads, there’s something that happens in your brain.  It’s not chemical, it’s not unhealthy, but that “runner’s high” is addictive.

My addiction to running crept up slowly.  Darrell and I had been running on the treadmill and running on the indoor track at the Dartmouth Sportsplex on a fairly regular basis.  Spring was fast approaching and we wanted to mix things up and get outdoors.  The sidewalks were finally clear of snow and ice, the temperature was climbing up above single digits.  It was time to venture out.

Our first outdoor run was exhilarating. We managed just shy of 5K in 38 minutes. Not a stellar run, but we were so excited by our accomplishment. And definitely wanted to do this again.

 

 
  
And again, and again, and again. That's where the addiction started. With no apparent end in sight. We run in the sunshine, we run in the rain, we run in the warm weather, or in the cold, in the evenings and in the mornings. We run. And the endless support and encouragement of our spouses helps to fuel our addiction.

This Whole Running Thing

This whole running thing started out pretty simple.  Over the past few years, a few "extra" pounds

found themselves quite comfortable around my mid-section and they didn't want to leave.  I tried

dieting. I tried drinking less wine.  Neither was effective. Or more to the point, they didn't suit me. I

didn't have the will power.

So, I needed to be more active. Plain and simple.

January in Nova Scotia is cold and snowy and wet.  Not the ideal time to decide to get physical.

But, I was about to turn 50 and getting physically active was the only way to go.  Secretly I had been

messaging my brother-in-law on Facebook - quizzing him on how his running was going. How was

his breathing?  How were his knees?  What struggles?  Motivation?   He had started running about 6

months ago and was looking and feeling great. 




I grew up in a culture of running. My Dad had been a Track official for years.

He had been a Race Director for the Johnny Miles Marathon in New Glasgow, and even officiated at

the Canada Summer Games and at the Marathon Race at the Montreal Olympics.

 

I felt sure this "whole running thing" would work.

 Darrell, aka Best Brother-in-Law Ever!

Very graciously, Darrell agree to take me on as a running partner. We set a goal of running 10K in

the Bluenose Marathon the Victoria Day Weekend in May.  At my 50th birthday party, the

announcement was made.  I figured if I made it public to family and friends, it would be impossible

to go back. Not sure if I needed that motivation but it sure didn't hurt.

 Me - on my 50th birthday.

There's something about turning 50 that makes you look back and look ahead at the same time. Not

sure I'll get another 50 years of living in, so I should probably make a few of those years count for

something.  As running was going to directly benefit me, maybe I should do something to directly

benefit someone else.  I'm a strong believer in supporting local charities, so I approached a Wildlife

Rehabilitation Centre a few miles up the road to ask if I could raise funds for them while doing the

Bluenose Marathon for me.