11.7.21 for 11.7.15 = Runner Celebration
COVID-19, “The Rona Era”
I made today a long run Sunday. That wasn’t my plan, at first. Today is the 50th run of the New York Marathon. We have a couple of BGR-Boston members running. On my different running social media sites, many black folks are in New York running this race. It’s a great weather day to run, in Boston and New York.
This morning, I ran along the Charles River Esplanade. Daylight savings time started today. Running at 6a.m. was really 7 a.m. We fall back and get an extra hour of sleep. The headlight I brought with me, I didn’t need it because there was light in the sky!
Today, marks the 6th year anniversary when I became a runner. 11/7/2015 was state #8 on my 50 states/ 50 half marathon journey. Today was the day, after seeing 600 black women run this race that “ runner” became apart of my identity. The marathon and 11 half marathons I ran previously, I didn’t think of myself as a runner. I was someone who was studying/researching running, but was not a runner. I ran a marathon as a birthday gift to myself and a challenge but I was not a runner.Running was a tool to help with my grief and healing but I was not a runner. On 11/7/15, I was a runner. Representation matters. Seeing the diversity of black women runners in that space, made me realize that I was not alone in this space. There were so many of “ us” who run.
These are women who I wouldn’t see on the cover of runner’s world or on any social media running site. I thought I should run 8 miles because it was state number 8.
I ran 6 miles and walked a mile. My body and pelvic floor felt better than it had been. I didn’t properly fuel up. Last night the Iowan and I found a winery in New Hampshire. Eight wine tasting with cheese, bread, and meat didn’t make for proper fuel for this morning’s run. I did not hydrate enough either.
I got a 10k in but then I was tired and cold. I walked/ran mile 7.
This morning was a good time to reflect on my running journey and how far I’ve come and the path that I need to go on. My first race was May, 2013. A lot of miles have happened in less than 10 years.
#stillrunning
#mypace
#myrunningspace
