Changing Seasons

I recall reading once that a runner will go through different "seasons" in the course of their running career. Given that I am looking forward to the change from warm summer days to the cooler winds of autumn, I feel led to reflect upon on this observation, considering it in light of the busy year that 2017 has been so far.

In the 20+ years that my running career has spanned (not including the "dark ages" from 2008-2011) I have had my fair share of ups and downs. There have been great races and colossal disappointments, people have come and gone, and I have changed everything from training patterns to stride rates to nutrition. I've raced in spectacular natural landscapes and bustling urban environments. Through it all, I've been chasing that elusive goal of "getting better".

Over time, one's motivation and sense of purpose will inevitably wax and wane depending on race goals, the calendar, personal goals, and the like. Whether because Wasatch was so emotionally and physically draining - or perhaps because the year has been taxing as a whole - I have found that the joy and anticipation I had taken in my preparation for this year's races has not carried over to its last few months. Training can be a grind, but when clearly defined goals are at the forefront of that training, it's much easier to remain committed to the "big picture".

Case in point - I had intended to cap off my racing year at the New York Marathon in a few weeks. My overall lethargy has led me to shelve that plan, instead approaching the fall as an opportunity to recover some of my previous enthusiasm and allow myself to rest and heal. (Based on the few runs I have been doing recently the chances that I could put together any kind of a decent marathon right now are remote anyway.) After a summer grinding out mile after mile on lonely, rugged trails in remote places the idea of one of the world's biggest road races in the nation's largest city surrounded by thousands became quite unappealing. Instead, I have considered that perhaps volunteering, reconnecting with other local runners, and simply enjoying some easy running in the cooler October air might just be the change that could reinvigorate my routine.

My time at Wasatch last month has also compelled me to consider more in-depth the part that running will play in my life going forward. It can't just be about accolades, trophies, or collecting races, can it? Could I be entering the autumn of my running career? Are fast times and big events still important to me? I don't think I have lost that competitive fire completely, but right now, it is certainly more of an ember than a flame.

"There is an appointed time for everything, 

and a time for every purpose under heaven." - Ecc 3:1

But however dimly it burns, I feel that the flame is still there. I wonder if any other runners wrestle with the thought: "If I take too much time off, what if I can't/don't want to/won't be able to come back"? That fear (if you want to call it that) is what keeps me at least moving through my current state of lethargy. 

With no major major goals on the horizon, I will continue to run simply for the joy of running and look for other avenues to remain connected to the sport. Perhaps it speaks volumes about my state of mind that this plan has me as excited as preparing for a race! In this case, perhaps it is best to look at some downtime as a blessing.