Personal Narrative: My Life On The Team

“My arms are pumping, my legs are burning, and my lungs feel like they’re overinflated balloons about to burst!” Many people, both runners and non-runners alike, know all too well of the feeling one gets during a good, intense run. But very few of them stop to think about the sensations and emotions that occur after this run.
I have been on my school’s cross country team for five years now, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. I love being part of a team, and I love being able to run with my friends and improve myself. However, I don’t just run because I want to be on a team, or because I just want to “stay fit”; I also run because I truly enjoy the feeling of running itself, and particularly the feeling afterwards. It has always seemed to me that, to the majority of people, the feel of the run itself is the only focus during a practice. Most people on my team tend to either be apathetic towards our tougher workouts, or they absolutely dread them, saying things like
“this is going to suck!”, or “I can’t wait until this is over!” I often look forward to them, simply because I get to relish that post-run feeling.
After ending a hard workout, this feeling begins to set in. The labored breathing starts to slow, the burning muscles begin to fade, and I am left with the mental state the run has put me in. For me, this is an endorphin-induced clarity, a sort of relaxed euphoria mixed with a wonderful sense of accomplishment. * This mental state often stays with me into the rest of my day. I have found that I am more focused, positive, and energetic after a run. Not only does the run put me in a great mental state, but it leaves my body feeling loose, relaxed, and stretched. Because of this feeling, I typically run in the morning so I can start my day on a bright note, get something done straightaway, and fully reap the benefits of the aftereffects of the run.
The first year I started CC my coach stated “get comfortable with being uncomfortable”.
That bit of wisdom has stuck with me, helping me through the physical pain that often comes with an intense run. It is important to recognize and appreciate this feeling, especially for the few fleeting moments at its peak right after a run. It’s a feeling that can be a great motivation and satisfaction. In fact, this is one of the primary reasons that I run at all. It’s a great de-stressor and mood elevator. When the exercise itself is the focus, people tend not to value this post-run state. On days when I am overwhelmed with responsibilities and feel like I couldn’t possible add one more thing to my plate, it is actually beneficial for me to make the time to run. It is through training and a growing appreciation for running that this feeling becomes more and more noticeable. In all, we should see running less as a chore or something we need to do, and more as a gateway to feeling accomplished and
inspired.