Do you get the bump? You know, that little burst of energy that seems to kick in after running about 5K? I love the bump. Some runs, I live for the bump. Some runs, it’s the only good thing about the whole run, except for the part where you get to stop. The stopping part is also good.
The thing is, on a good day, I don’t just get a bump at 5K. When all is going well, there are all kinds of little milestones that give me a small adrenaline kick.
Things that Give Me “The Bump” on a Run:
- Other runners, especially when they smile, wave, nod or offer high fives.
- Cute, friendly dogs on leash, carrying big sticks in their mouths like treasures.
- Dads out with their babies and toddlers on Sunday morning, letting their wives sleep in.
- Old couples out for a walk, holding hands.
- Deer standing in a field, cautiously observing me from a distance.
- Turning the corner and feeling the wind at my back.
- Having a great new song with uncannily appropriate lyrics pop up on my iPod at just the right moment, a gift from the Pod Gods.
- A long, slow, gentle downward slope at the end of a run.
- Turning the corner onto my street and meeting a neighbour, providing the perfect excuse to en the run early.
That’s when things are going well. On a bad day, it’s just one long, bump-less slog, similar to crawling across a desert towards an imaginary water hole.
How about you? What gives you the bump (running or otherwise)?
Amazing post... your 'bumps' are similar to mine. I also enjoy seeing kids running around, laughing, no cares in the world.
Posted by: Mel | June 30, 2009 at 08:35 AM
I love the 5K bump...to me it's the whole reason to run far...so that at 5K I can feel like I'm flying for a bit.
I also love the bump that I get when my mind wanders onto some topic that I wasn't expecting to think about, and a mile (or two if I'm lucky) goes by, and I wonder how that happened...
Great post!
Posted by: aka Alice | June 30, 2009 at 11:01 PM
I love this post! And I love the things you mention, they're like little gifts during a run.
Posted by: Running mommy | July 05, 2009 at 02:05 PM
Thanks for the feedback! Mel and akaAlilce -- those are great "bumps" for me, too.
Nicole (Running Mommy): you are my 400th comment. Thanks!
Posted by: Reluctant Runner | July 05, 2009 at 05:51 PM