Hello Hope College! I hope you’re enjoying your final weeks of the semester and are ready to celebrate Easter this weekend. The weather is getting so nice that I hope you get to spend some time outside as well!
Speaking of the weather, today was beautiful! The campus was buzzing with life…the Pine Grove was packed with hammocks hooked high in trees and people basking in the warm sun. When I was there, I even counted four games of SpikeBall going on!
Besides just soaking up the sun between classes in the Pine Grove, one of my favorite activities to do when it’s warm out is run. When I was in high school, I was involved in a lot of different sports, but I thrived at the ones that involved running outside. Soccer and cross country were my favorites, and those running habits carried over into college. Some people say when you start running, you catch “the running bug”, and when I played those specific sports, I definitely caught it.
Running is easy for me. I am blessed with an able body that wants to push its limits everyday, and in running, the only person you have to beat is yourself. I thrive on this concept, and on good days when I beat my mile time, it’s the best feeling in the world. When I was in grade school, like most kids, I hated running. But moving into high school and college, it has been my stress reliever and the way I cope with difficult situations.
Last summer was my first long distance run. I ran a 10K (or 6.2 miles) at Stoney Creek Metropark by my house, and it was the hardest race I’ve ever run. I had limited training beforehand and, although I felt great during the race, I was wrecked after. My legs were extremely sore and stayed that way for a week! However, that accomplishment only fed my love for running, because this summer, I’m running a half-marathon, which is 13.1 miles. (Yikes!)
Unlike last summer, I am on a strict training schedule. Workouts are six out of seven days a week with lower mileage during the week and long runs on the weekends. Getting started on these was difficult because, like all activities, you have to make time for it! During the winter, I would work out at the Dow during the night because there was snow on the ground, but running around the track 30+ times (10 is a mile) gets really boring really fast. That’s why I’m so grateful for the warmer weather thats on its way!
Even if running’s not your thing, I encourage you to give it a try! It’s so nice being outside and getting that fresh air into your lungs. Running also releases endorphins in your body, so it’s a mood enhancer and puts you in a good mood. 🙂
Enjoy your Easter holiday, and enjoy the coming warm days!
Until next time!