Not just happy...but so happy you feel delirious? High? Euphoric? Living a dream?
I can think of a few things.
Ben and Jerry's Karamel Sutra.
Kayaking with my son this past weekend. Listening to music on my car stereo that my oldest son installed. Actually anything with my sons at this point!
Sunshine and a warm breeze. Time on the water. Toes in the sand.
An unexpected thoughtful gesture from my husband.
Petting the fur of my new little pup.
And a great run. In a beautiful place.
Although I've had a lot of runs that felt easy and joyful, my most memorable runs, the ones that have brought me that feeling of joy, that runner's high, have been after crossing the finish line of a marathon or a half marathon. There's something about running hard for a long period of time that makes me feel so complete.
Most recently, my most joyful race was that Big Sur Marathon. I know I keep referring to it, but Big Sur was THE marathon for me. It was a lifelong bucket list race. I fought so hard through my training--dealing with plantar fasciitis--to get to that start line. When Kristina and I crossed the finish line I was overcome by emotion. I didn't feel that euphoria immediately. It wasn't until later in the day after my husband took me out for lunch and a yummy victory beer that I started to realize what I had accomplished. That amazing feeling of savoring my accomplishment lasted for a long time after the race. I still smile when I think about the whole experience. In fact, today someone just asked me about Big Sur and it was like I was transported back to that day.
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| Pretty sure I was one of the happiest people there. |
Ahhhh. The euphoria washes over me just writing about this. It's not like I ran fast or won the thing. But I sure felt like I did.
How often do we get to feel like this? Getting to live a dream come true?
This feeling of delirium, as it relates to running, feels almost like falling in love.
We do fall in love with running, don't we? Not the training so much, although I look back on all my marathon training journeys with fondness. There's such a sense of accomplishment to working so hard for 12-20 weeks, culminating in a big race.
What sticks with us, though, is the feeling of crossing the finish line.
Although I've run quite a few half marathons, some very memorably, crossing the finish line of a marathon is a feeling unmatched by almost everything in life.
Not only Big Sur but after crossing the finish line of last fall's Chicago Marathon, I walked around the marathon village in a daze. A happy, euphoric daze. I felt somewhat delirious. Sure, I just ran 26.2 miles in the heat. But that wasn't what made me feel delirious. I chalk it up to beating down those negative naysayers in my head that told me to quit.
Sometimes finishing is winning. And having your teenage son come to your race? That's winning too.
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| I can't ever get enough of this moment. |
At this point, I am satisfied with my accomplishments. I am happy.
Deliriously happy.
What makes you feel happy? Have you ever done anything that has brought you that feeling of "deliriousness"? If that is even a word...
I'm linking up with Deb Runs for Wednesday Word, which is delirious! This was a tough one!
Also Wild Workout Wednesday! With Annmarie, Nicole, Jen, and Michelle!
And Coaches Corner! With Debbie, Rachel, Lora, and Susie!
