RUN/RID-erful Wednesday

HAPPY HUMP DAY GUYS!!!! Woohoo! We made it! It's all downhill from here (and that's GREAT news when it comes to running and biking as well). 😄

With all the new and at times hectic experiences going on currently (and more to come!), it's been awhile since I've taken the time to focus on the small things, and the things that make me smile. No mater what goes on in our lives, it's important to live in the moment and to focus on what's important to us. A recent visit to a BMX track and subsequent chat with a friendly racer I met there left me thinking about the reasons we do what we do in our spare time; a piece of insight and honesty that I've been applying to my running, BMX, and really anything we choose to do for fun (as well as work- to a point). 

This week's thoughts include:

Enjoyment vs. Ego

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Why do we choose to do certain things over others in our spare (and not-so-spare) time? Why do we choose to peel ourselves out of bed, rub the sleep from our eyes and hit the gym? Why the heck do we get home as fast as we can after work just so that we can change into our leathers and jersey and sit in rush hour traffic all the way to the BMX track, or get our shorts and running shoes on as fast as humanly possible to be on time for an appointment with a running instructor? Most of us have the freedom of choice in what we do in our off-time, so I'd have to say that the answer for me is enjoyment. I LOVE doing all of that. Do I love not having much time in the day after all of it? No. Do I love rushing around or setting the alarm extra early? HECK no. But in the end, I feel that the end justifies the means. I LOVE the feeling of sailing down the straightaway on the BMX track, or getting the best gate of my life. I love the feelings of accomplishment, happiness and post track tranquility when I'm done with riding for the day, A/C on high in the Summertime, sitting on an old fraying zebra printed beach towel from my college days, folded and placed to protect the car seat, hair a huge mess (what's new), stomach grumbling for dinner, and legs burning as I drive happily home. I love the feeling after a super hard running class or outdoor run, of feeling stronger and faster every day, and happy for being able to accomplish something new.

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That's the short and long of it - I do what I do because I love it. It makes me smile. I run and race my own race. Every once in a while, as I'm sure we all do from time to time, I cross paths with someone in my line of hobby who is either ego-driven, overly competitive, or jealous of anything and everything (or a mix of those three) and I wonder if they even really like what they do. They seem to enjoy their hobby so much they want to be the only one doing it- on the planet- and the attitude matches. After all, being a rude competitor off the playing field won't make your legs pedal faster or make that mile time get lower. It also won't intimidate anyone (#frownlinesareforever). Egos are essential, but an overly inflated one can be detrimental.

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In the end, do something because you genuinely enjoy what you're getting out of it, even if you don't love everything about it (hopefully career-wise as well). From time to time remind yourself why you are grateful for what you already have in life. I definitely feel lucky, not only to be able to do what I do, but to be where I am in life and be with who I'm with.

Well, time to go. I don't want to be late for my running class.