Runner’s World+ Member: Kristen Heinan
Kristen is a Runner’s World+ member. Join her and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
Wow. I didn’t like running at all when I was little. Started running in college because it was the best way my mind and body could express all kinds of energy and emotions. From the joys of good news or a first winter snow flurry, to the frustration/despair of "failing out" of pre-med classes. It has provided me an outlet, a focus, a different (non-academic, non-work) identity. It is freeing and challenging. It is meditation. It is pushing my limits. Overcoming and accepting and appreciating. I’ve also had a bunch of body issues over the years and that’s hard to get rid of. So days when I’m feeling not so great I remind myself of the awesome running stuff my body can do now that there’s no way it could have done back when I thought I was more “perfect.”
I like to learn, I read about all the tips for training. I love the inspirational stories. I love the running community.
I ran my first 40 minute 5 miler on the treadmill after work the first day we switched to our new electronic medical record system (read: I wanted to kill something). And for all the times I can’t help, I can’t make someone better, I can’t figure out what’s wrong, I can’t make headway on any number of projects—At least I can have some time on the road and to just breathe and move and be, or, have the small success of finishing a hard workout or even doing well in a race.
I run very strategically where I know there are bathrooms close by. My stomach and I have an often tenuous relationship especially in the mornings. I know where all the 24 hour potties are (thank you grocery stores). Ideally I run in the morning but sometimes two shorter runs a day. If it’s really early, especially in the winter (or dark at night in the winter), I will run inside on the treadmill at the gym. This includes for speed workouts because my achilles seems to get pissed off going in circles around the track.
We really need more shirts and shorts with legit pockets. I often run in what are technically biking/cycling shirts because they have big pockets for the stuff I carry with me. I can’t get used to gear belts because they always ride up. When it’s cooler out, I have awesome crops with nice big pockets.
Keep running without getting majorly injured. Get more confident running with other people. 21 minute 5K. Make it back to Boston :)
You Might Also Like
