I have been back running without pain for about three weeks now. When I started this second phase of my running career I was nervous every time my left foot struck the ground. That fear has slowly but surely dissipated to the point where I can run now with a free mind for short amounts of time. There is no better feeling than running along and suddenly you almost kind of wake up from a mid run daze. It’s like you just got the last few kms for free. No muscle pain, no gasping for air, just floating along with random thoughts going through your mind in a strange form of relaxation.
I got a small moment of this relaxed state a few days ago. It was a real boost to my confidence and encourages me, that in time, all will be well again. So, you think. What’s next? What should I aim for? What events will get a hold of me?
I can quickly reel off answers to that for myself. It goes like this:
1) October, Melbourne Marathon. 2) November, Moonwalk 45km Ultra in the Dandenongs. 3) January, Two Bays Trail Run, 56kms. 4) February, Maroondah Dam Ultra, 50km. 5) May, TNF100, Blue Mountains.
If I can complete all five of those in the next 12 months I’ll be personally very satisfied. However, there’s something missing, something nagging away at me.
Today I went for a run with my five year old boy Raferty. We ran along the bike track about a km to the school he’ll start at next year in Prep. There was a big sign up saying they’re raising money to build a running track on the grounds with several exercise stations. All of this to promote healthy lifestyles. Raf loves running and will thrive in his new school. So I started to think........not every school is going to build a track due to a variety of reasons. Not many schools have a running culture outside of the couple of weeks around the good old Cross Country event. Is there something that could be done to excite kids about running so that it becomes part of what they do? Maybe.
I’m thinking 100km ultra that links primary schools all over the city. Each school runs a 5km section. They could do it just for the fun of it or link it to fundraising for a chosen charity. I know a couple of blokes who might run the full distance with me if I ask them nicely. I know a few teachers around the place who might be keen to fire up their kids to ‘Run a Fiver’. Maybe it works......Maybe not.....logistically tough but we’ll see. Maybe next year or 2013.
So you think it could happen? Surely it’s worth a bit more thought at least.
