Keep on Running

I have never been a runner. I mean, I have run. I used to run as conditioning for swimming. I do run on the treadmill for cardio. But I have never been that person who is excited to go outside and go for a run to “clear my mind” just because. Well, Barcelona has made me a runner. At first, I was against it. Let me tell you, when running outside in Barcelona, people think you are absolutely crazy. No one is wearing leggings, work out tops, or headphones. Everyone stares. People think you’re nuts. I didn’t like that.

After settling into our apartment after the first couple weeks, I finally found a path that I was comfortable running. This spot that I found has a median in the middle of the road where people walk down. The street is called Gran Via. There is a bike lane too and people don’t think you are nearly as crazy and it isn’t that congested either It’s a win-win. So I have been running there, and enjoying it. It’s the perfect spot to just run and not look down at numbers on a treadmill or worry about how fast you are going, but you can actually see Barcelona and see other people and see things that you don’t see all the time. It’s really cool actually. And the thing is, I think I have been running faster and longer than I ever have before. I have no idea why. It’s pretty crazy actually, but I have been enjoying it and I feel like running is something that you can actually enjoy instead of just doing it to do it.

Sometimes, if I want to get off my normal path, I’ll run a little farther to the actual Plaza de Espana and run to the top where the view is incredible. It reminds me of bleachers and brings me back to high school swimming days. That stresses me out.

So Angie and I are supposed to run a 15K in Barcelona this Sunday. However, the past couple of days I have been having pain in my ankle, so I'm undecided if I'm going to do it or not yet. Regardless, Angie is and I'll be there to cheer her on!!!! If you told me I would be running a race, let alone a 15K in Barcelona while I was here, I would have laughed in your face. I didn’t even remotely think I was going to stay in shape while being here. It’s a little over nine miles….three miles over what I’ve ever done before. Hopefully I will be able to do it, but if not it's okay because I'd rather be able to run the rest of my time here than hurt it even more.