Wear Sunscreen

Happy Monday, bloggies! I’m not normally a huge fan of Mondays, but for some reason today I feel reenergized, hopeful and optimistic about the fresh start of a new week. It can be whatever I make it, starting right now.

I was neglectful of photos this weekend. When the weekend started, I thought it would be a relaxing loungefest spent mostly at home. It turned out to be fairly busy in a productive, fun kinda way.

I didn’t run on Friday because it was too cold for Peanut to be outside. Saturday was GORGEOUS weather, but I was having trouble getting myself out the door. I kept telling myself it was 30 minutes. Just 30 minutes. Then I could come home and do whatever I wanted for the rest of the day. I finally talked myself into just getting dressed in my running gear. Once my shoes and heart rate monitor were on I was already feeling a little pep in my step. Peanut and I headed to the bike path. I “slogged” (loving that new word!) along for 2 miles. It wasn’t easy and I really struggled with the last 1/2 mile, but in the end I was so glad I’d done it. The sun was shining, there was a refreshing breeze and Peanut was asleep so I decided to keep walking for a while. When I finally walked back in the driveway I looked down at my heart rate monitor and realized I’d been gone for almost TWO hours! It’s amazing what can happen when you just get yourself out the door.

While I was slathering sunscreen on Peanut to get ready for our jog, I was reminded of that infamous Baz Luhrmann song from several years ago, “Everybody’s Free (to Wear Sunscreen).” Wow. Has it really been almost 11 years since that was on the radio? I was a sophomore in high school. That makes me feel old. Anyway, I found the music video on YouTube when I got home from my run. It gave me goosebumps. If you have 5 minutes, I recommend you watch it. Listen. Really listen. I never realized how much of the advice is geared toward health and wellness.

My favorite quote from the whole thing:

The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.

I realized something when I heard those words. I realized that I don’t run for medals or ribbons or even for first place. I don’t run because everyone else is doing it. I don’t run to impress anyone. I don’t run because I have to.

I run for me. I run because I can and to show myself that I can. I run to be healthier. I run to relax and clear my mind. I run because I want to.

I’ll never win a 5k, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try each and every time to set a personal record because, like the song says, the race is only with myself. And even if I don’t set a personal record that day, I still finished a race and that’s something to be proud of.

Who cares if I “only” run a 12 minute mile. Or if I’m sometimes not even that fast. Time doesn’t make me a runner. The fact that my feet are out there pounding the pavement does.

Advertisement