I want to start by saying I have always been an active
person. Whether it be playing soccer, swimming, or running track in high
school, I always found myself working out for a few hours at least 4 times a
week (most time much, much more than that). Then I graduated from university in
Minnesota, and for the first time since I could remember, I did not have
structured practices or competitions. This was a bit of a relief. When I moved
here, after taking a year off, I decided to pick up running again: not as a “hard
core” thing, mainly because I hated running, but as a means-to-an-end and just
to clear my head. Here and there I ran with some friends from San Raffeale.
There was a 5K run in June of 2013 that we decided would be a fun goal for the spring.
So I thought “Why not?” At 10 euros, it was the cheapest entertainment you could
find in Milan. It went well; my time was decent, nothing too amazing.
Then fast-forward a few months to late September of
2013. I moved into a new apartment in a different part of town, and had little
time for anything but studying. At that point I was running maybe once or twice
a month. My roommates would probably agree I was not the nicest person to be
around those days. Then, in a blink of an eye, it was Christmas and I was back
in Minnesota. Although I had managed to maintain my weight over the fall, I
gained 8lbs (4 Kg) in a matter of 3 weeks at home. To drop my Christmas weight
gain, I decided I would start running again when I returned to Milan. The
January exam session came and went, and I still felt really “ungrounded”. Thus
my goal for my 25th year was to find balance in my life again. Knowing my self
and my competitive nature, I started looking into possible 5K runs in the near
future for motivation. Plus, I had a new feature on my Nike+ App that gave me
workouts to do for training.
And wouldn't ya know, the Stramilano
half-marathon had a 5K and 10K option. So I thought, “Great, I’ll get my friend
Alyssa to do it with me, and it will be relaxing and fun”, not knowing that two
things were about to happen:
1. March 23rd is Alyssa's birthday;
2. Alyssa does “real” running, not like my “kinda
sorta when I feel like it” running.
Hence, when she found out there was a 10K run option,
Alyssa said it would be a great way to spend her birthday. I couldn't very well
say no to her only birthday request, and so my first 10K race: here we come.
The first 10K race was quite an experience, but a fun one at that. I had this great idea that I would actually train for it. Hahahaha, right. Between my exams and the new block schedule of lectures, training fell by the way side. However, I did manage to get a few more runs in than I normally would have. My goal was to finish in under an hour, and that I did. By the way, for any American readers 10K is about 6.2 miles. This particular race was actually probably one of the best races for someone to do a first 10K because it was full of people just getting out: old, young, fast, slow, or even wearing costumes, it didn't matter. Everyone was just having a good time.
After the first one was such a success, I thought, “Ya,
let’s see what other races are around”. And, lo and behold, the Nike’s women’s’
run “We Own The Night” was having a Milano date. This one was a bit more
expensive: a whole 20 euros (nothing compared to races back home), but I thought,
“Ya, it’s in a few months and I will actually train this time”. Righhhht…. This
time, not only did I not have as much time to train, but I was also spending 8
hour days in the hospital, which is like doing an oral exam every day for 6
hours. Now do that for two weeks straight. Needless to say, I learned a lot,
but had very little energy to train. I did manage to get in more than last time
though, and dropped a minute or so off my time from my first race; however, it
was much more painful. Bea came with to cheer me on. It was the first race she
had been to, and Bea thought it was a pretty cool experience.
My next run was the same 5K run that started this
whole thing back in 2013. It got rained out and rescheduled for late July.
Despite the heat, I did manage a time once again faster then the year before, and
had a great time doing it.
Now it’s June 2014, and I have started running about 4
days a week. I get up at 7 in the morning, because it’s the only time before a lecture
or the hospital not blazing hot out to go for a run. It gives me a time alone,
not that I do not love my roommates or classmates or friends, but running gives
me at least 15 minutes alone with my thoughts and to clarify things. It also gives
me something to do outside of my studies. Although I love my studies and I
could not imagine doing anything else, especially after my first rotation in
cardiology, when your whole life is in one field you can lose perspective. You
can lose perspective on why you are doing it, perspective on the fact that
there is an entire world going on while you are studying and working, and
perspective about the things that really matter in life. Running gave that back
to me. However, now I’m hooked on getting up early to run at the start of my
day, which some may interpret as more insane. You be the judge.
So in summary:
1. I managed to lose all the Christmas weight and then
some;
2. Running gave me a place to go to and think, a place
to clarify the jumble that builds up inside during the day;
3. I gained perspective that I had lost;
4. I found a bit more balance with that perspective;
5. I regained my sanity.
Thank you running! I don't think I could have done it
with out you. Let’s see what this new academic year has in store. Maybe a half
marathon (21K) in March? You will have to stay tuned to find out.
Till we meet again,
~M~
