A change came into our house late last year. My husband starting running. He’s never run before — not in any committed way. But a big birthday, a need to be fit, a sudden preoccupation with health, something pushed him into becoming a runner. Four times a week without fail.
And, of course, he has lost weight. Quite a bit really. The law of conservation of mass — mass is never created or destroyed, it’s just rearranged. His lost kilos have found me. Stealthily crept over to my side of the bed. And so, I too, have attempted the magic of running to rearrange molecules.
I am not a runner. Nor am I very fit. But I do like to get up early. So that at least gave me a window. My husband runs at night. It niggles me. That he can do that without a care. I’d probably run very fast at night, constantly fearful with terror nipping at my ankles. I doubt my husband even thinks about the danger.
At the edge of day, I pull on my ancient running shoes and set out. There is sometimes a misty fog, an eerie world before the sun breaks through. It’s very quiet. The houses I pass are sleeping or just waking. Or there is a light on and I imagine a new mother, cradling her sleeping baby and craving just a few hours sleep before the cycle all starts again. Sometimes I’ll pass someone unlocking their gate, setting out on a walk or run. We will smile and chat for a moment, comment on the beauty of the breaking morning.
Then I’ll huff and puff my way down to the bike path. I’ve discovered the steady jog. A pace not much faster than walking but one that elevates my heart rate and allows me to cover a little distance. As I said, I’m not fit, so this snail’s pace leaves me breathing harder than it should. A little embarrassed as other pass by with an easy smile and wave.
I encounter all sorts of people on that morning jog. The friendly folk walking their dogs. Older couples, walking hand in hand and enjoying each other’s company. The focused and committed runners, with a fitbit strapped to their wrist, their phone strapped to their bicep, their shoes new and impressive and their breath determined and even. Cyclists pass, sometimes with a late ring of the bell as they sail by. Sometimes there will be another person travelling at my slow place and I will fall in step with them. Trailing behind but not being left in the dust. Finding some comfort in our synchronised foot falls.
As I end my jog, I pass a group of ladies. Ostensibly they are training, with their yoga mats and resistance bands. They are always full of joy and laughter. I never see them exercising but they are always having a good time. It’s a nice way to finish the jog, to start the day.
I don’t jog in the company of music. I prefer to listen to the sounds of the morning. The bubble of the creek I pass over, the gradual waking of my neighbourhood. The cacophony of birds in the canopy of trees above me. It feels like being part of the early morning, that other-worldly hour or so, before the bustle begins.
Before I head back into my house, I pause at the gate. Look up and smile at the sunrise.
Are you a runner? Do you like the early morning? Does any weight lost by your partner find you?
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I seem to “find” all the weight that my husband loses too! I am a runner but I’m not fast, my motto is “I’m slow but I go.” Now I’m not working full time, I have the luxury of running whenever I choose, which is just as well as I can’t see well in the dark and it’s baltic early in the morning. Since his stroke, hubby has rediscovered his love of running so at weekends we get to run together. Next month we’re going to Disneyland to run a half marathon which means right now, we’re training and I’m doing rather more running than I’d like!
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“I’m slow but I go” – love it!!!
That’s so cool and exciting. I think anyone who runs marathons or half marathons is amazing.
IT is the very best time of day, the fresh new morning. I tried jogging earlier this year, but alas my body had other ideas. I was enjoying crossfit until recently, but again my body let me down. Not sure what my exercise is just yet, but know that I love it, and it normally loves me. xx
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Uggh – hate it when our bodies don’t follow our minds! I’ve always like the gentler exercises – yoga, pilates etc.
You write beautifully! I used to run and love it – I agree with you that I didn’t listen to music – but only on my trail runs or nature runs – when pounding the pavement down the highway I would always listen to tunes to hide the traffic noise and give some distraction.
I need to start running again!
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I love being a part of the morning and waking up with it. I think it’s a real chance to connect. We have beautiful cycling paths nearby that run through a nature reserve so it’s quite lovely.
I’m looking to get back into exercise but I have no idea what I actually want to do! I think that will be my challenge.
I love the idea of the people on the yoga mats being at the end of your route; that’s so lovely!
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They are always having such a great time. I think I’m going to look into barre classes – looks like it might be fun.
I used to run. A lot. Then I had two pregnancies close together, two babies, two kids. This has got me so excited about the thought of starting to run again. Thank you.
And yes, those kilos have definitely found me too :(.
It’s so hard once the kids arrive – there is a woman who jogs with twins in a pram some mornings and I’m COMPLETELY in awe of her.
I hate both getting up in the morning and jogging, but your beautiful words are tempting me…
It’s just the getting out of bed that’s hard – after that, it’s magical.
I used to be this running person, but now I have replaced it with walking. There is something magic about watching the sunrise. And the older I get, the more training I do, and the less weight I lose. 🙁 SAD.
I KNOW! I swear, I used to just think about losing weight and it would drop off. Now, not so much.
I hate getting up early!! But it is more enjoyable in the summer. I used to jog for awhile there but I need to get back into it. Zoning out on the treadmill to good tunes is my fave xx
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I have been known to run/jog/trot but not so much anymore. I think a comfortable pace is key otherwise you are gasping for breath and not enjoying your jog. I used to like to listen to podcasts when I ran, passed the time and distracted me!