By Carie Moore
Let’s be real for a moment, shall we? All these people training for their 5k, 10k, and marathons, who would pay to run? Getting up at 5 a.m. to run and all that with smiles and such gusto. Go back to bed!
Okay, I know I sound a bit harsh but I am not a runner, never have been. In track, I was the muscular thrower who lifted weights and anything running was just plain craziness. Then on the other hand, you have my dad who 25 years later still held track records at the same high school I attended. He was known for jumping hurdles and sprinting; the only thing I jump over is something I notice the kids left out, right before I trip on it. The only sprinting I do is to food when someone says, “time to eat.”
When I stop and think, I get it though. Every now and then, I do run. I run because it’s easy to do when I’m on vacation somewhere and it’s pushing me physically. I honestly hate doing it. I think it’s boring, but it’s a change from my typical workouts and trains me differently, so I do it...occasionally. I do it on our prairie trails, so I can check crops on the way back. I do it, so I can look at the wildlife, and I do it to get my kids out exploring.
This year I’m participating in the virtual 5k Great Pumpkin Run 5k. I signed up last year when I did more running because our prairie trail wasn’t under water all summer, but never got the final run in. So, this year I’m going to pick a day and do it, just to see where I’m at as a baseline, and to accomplish something new. I may not like to run, but I get you, runner. Like a farmer, you like to see the sunrise or sunset, you get to be a part of nature, you get to listen to music in your own little world, like me in a tractor. You get to push yourself every day to do better than you did last week. I get that running can make you feel good. So, it doesn’t feel like work at all.
I know a lot of people who run and all have their own “why.” That’s what’s important. Finding your “why.” Just like in farming, we have a reason we get up and watch the sunrise and push ourselves each day.
Think about it. There’s a connection between farmers and runners. Farmers, slow down and wave to the runners you pass in the morning. Runners, ask farmers the questions about the food that fuels you. I’ve just given the common ground between us to start the conversations. There are farmers who run but are there runners who farm?!? I’ll have to ponder that on my next run!