I am frequently asked why I run so much. Do you want the short answer? Running is a buffet. And twenty bucks says that I already know what you are thinking. “What does a sneeze guard have to do with aerobic exercise?” Well, nothing. Absolutely nothing. But a buffet is similar to running in the sense that you can have whatever you want. Do you want an outdoor adventure? Do you want to catch up on your favorite “Real Housewives” cast? Or maybe you are just out to stretch Fido. You can indeed have whatever you want with running. It is a buffet.
When I run, I often do not like repetitions. I am not one to fancy the treadmill, unless there is snow on the ground, and then it’s ESPNEWS on rinse and repeat. The great outdoors is the ultimate place to run for me. It’s not labor intensive if you are enjoying your time. I challenge you to run on a street that you’ve routinely driven down in your car. Perhaps the speed limit is 50 or just 25, but either way, I absolutely guarantee you that you’ll see something that you would have missed in your horseless carriage. Perhaps it’s the cute old guy tending to his garden or the cute little lab puppy chasing butterflies. The cuteness factor of the built environment exponentially increases the slower you travel. How much cuteness to what to see today? It’s a buffet; you can have whatever you want.
I once had this hellish chemistry class in college. In the building where we did our experiments, there was a sign that read: “You can’t have a laboratory without the labor.” Ugh. Unfortunately, for that semester of frustration, the quote was correct. In running, the key is to eliminate the disappointments and sorrow. If you are new to running, make it fun and beneficial. If you are a running veteran, still keep it lighthearted. We aren’t running to put bread on the table; you enjoy you. You can always mix in speed work with long runs and then sprinkle it with cross training. The key to any foodservice industry is to get you to come back. I want you to return to this buffet and frequently.
However, there is always one caveat to the buffet. If you eat too much rice pudding too fast, you’ll get sick. You must always listen to your body. I’ve fallen victim to the perils of the buffet. Crazy ideas of piggybacking marathons in the past have left me with Achilles tendinitis and stress fractures in my feet. Injuries will absolutely put the “labor” back in “laboratories.” The key to enjoying yourself at a buffet is to take your time; there will always be another clean plate to use. This is no different than in running. There is always tomorrow, take it easy and enjoy.
-RJ Lott
