I’ve long wanted to be runner. I don’t know exactly what prompted this desire but I have this vision of running down a long country road, alone with Mother Nature and whatever thoughts might stream through my head. My January 2nd, 2014 post, Doing What it Takes To Be A Runner, shared my goal to run a quarter marathon this year. Developing into a true runner was my first commitment after selecting my one word for 2014, Doing.
I think God’s been having a good chuckle this year about my plans.
I tried to do everything right. I bought good running shoes. I signed up for a local training program. I started “Couch to 10k.” And then my body quit on me.
I’ll spare you the details but suffice it to say that every positive thing I was trying to do was countered by a negative. When it came to running, well, let’s just say my podiatrist is my new best friend. All of the cumulative physical symptoms, with no end in sight to the stress that was contributing to them, led me to my August retirement decision.
After retirement, job #1 was to regain control of my physical well-being. I take classes four times a week; an AquaFlex class for flexibility on two days and the other two days a Back to Basics fitness class. I’m making a lot of progress where progress can be made (although there is still along way to go.) Five to six days a week, I also run laps in the “River,” a feature of our Community Center Pool in which the water churns with a steady current. A month ago, I could only run five laps. This week, I’m up to fifty total laps (about 8/10 mile); running 25 with styrofoam dumbbells for added resistance, 10 sideways crossovers, 5 lunges, 5 twists, 5 walking.
Of course, I’m not the only in in the river. At times, I’m maneuvering around kids in tubes or seniors walking slowly. Weaving in and out just makes it more interesting. Tuesday, as I was passing two older women walking side by side, I heard one of them say:
“She’s a runner. Move over.”
“She’s a runner.” Hey, wait, they were talking about me!
Once that statement registered, I turned to thank them for moving to the right so I could easily pass. Then I shared with them how I cannot run like this on dry land, but it feels awesome in the water.
OK universe, the joke’s on me. My plan was to be a runner on dry land. What I am is an Aqua-runner. And, you know what? That’s just perfect.
When your plans don’t unfold exactly the way you thought they would, it could be that something better is opening up to you. Don’t be so consumed by what is not happening that you miss what is happening. Be fully present to new possibilities. They could be better than what you imagined.
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