How great would it be if there was a running genie who could help to make all our running wishes come true? As far as I know, there is no such thing, but we can still share our running wishes and hope for the best! This week’s theme for Tuesdays on the Run is “If the running genie were to grant you 3 running wishes, what would they be?” Join us, and share what you would wish for!
I really only have one running wish. Can you guess what it is? If you have been reading this blog for more than a week I bet you already know.
Wish #1
My #1 running wish (and my only REAL wish) is to be able to run injury-free. If I am really being picky I would like to not have to worry about getting hurt either. I could overdo it once in a while and skip out on the PT and foam rolling and still be fine. However, I am willing to do what it takes to never get injured again, so if anyone can tell me the magic cure I would be forever grateful!
Wish #2
If I am lucky enough to get a second wish, it would be to have more time to do the things I want to do (that are running-related of course). Lately I have just felt like I am constantly rushing from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep. I have a good system in place that ensures that everything gets done, but I hate the feeling of always being rushed. Maybe the running genie can make the work day shorter or somehow negotiate 3 day work-weeks. Of course, the work load would have to be reduced somehow, too…
Wish #3
Finally, my 3rd wish. This is my last for a reason, because it’s the one I care about the least. Also, I feel like if the other two came true than this one would be more attainable. Wish # 3 would be to get faster. That could be by setting new PRs, qualifying for Boston, or just generally feeling like my pace is improving. When we work hard at something, we want to see results. I feel like I have been stuck in this place of not really being able to train or improve and that has been very frustrating.
That’s not so much to ask, right? I just want to be healthy and run fast and have enough time to do it all.
[Tweet “What would you wish for if the running genie offered you 3 wishes? @milebymilerun #tuesdaysontherun #runchat”]
What would you wish for if the running genie offered you 3 wishes?
Do you feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day?
When was the last time you ran a new PR?
I’m linking up with Patty, Erika, and Marcia for Tuesdays on the Run and Rachel, Susie, Lora, and Debbie for the Coaches’ Corner!
i feel like I’m rushing most mornings during the week to get myo workouts in and my son off to school on schedule. quite often I feel like I rush through pure barre or shorten my runs because I am short on time. this week is nice since I’m not in a rush and the summer is not rushed either – such a difference then. can I just throw in here because I feel like telling you that I lost my phone yesterday in penn station while getting on the train?! can you believe it?! one minute I had it and the next I didn’t.
Oh no! That is the worst. I feel like losing my phone feels like losing a part of my body. Hopefully you had everything backed up. Still super stressful and annoying though.
You and I are of the same mind. First, run injury free for the rest of time. PLEASE. Then, for me, it would be to be able to run during IVF and other medical things. Third would be to get back to at least the ballpark of where I was speedwise a year and a half ago! I’m honestly a bit nervous that will never happen again.
I bet with all the stress of medical stuff it would be nice to be able to run through all of that!
Yes to all. If I could just take illness/injury out of the equation, that’d be great. I don’t care about PRs anymore but just having a run always feel great would be amazing.
That would be so ideal!
Yes to running injury or (as Marcia said) injury free! None of our other wishes can come true without that one.
Exactly! It would be so amazing to never have to worry about injuries again.
Those are great wishes. Time management is always a challenge for me. I wish I could have more time so that I can do all my training stuff and still easily balance regular life!
It would be so great to have more time to do it all!
I wish that I lived closer to my favorite trails and didn’t spend time driving to run! Time management is what gets me, especially when I have to factor in drive time. The days overall have felt so busy lately!
That must be tough to have to drive to run! Thats what keeps me from running on trails- its so much easier to step outside and go for a run.
Yes I would definitely like more time too to tackle another marathon. And please no more injuries! That would be awesome!
Wouldn’t it be amazing to have more time and never get hurt?
I think a lot of posts will mention being injury free. I don’t like stressing about it so much and worrying every day I go for a run. I can have a great run one week and my knee doesn’t bother me, and then the injury pops up the next week. I’d like to have good consistency.
I know exactly what you mean. It would be so nice to have more consistency!
Yes, yes, and YES! I love the wish for more time (you had me at 3 day work week!)
If only there was a way to have a 3 day work week but still get paid for working full time!
TOTALLY agree with #2. I would definitely wish the genie could warp the laws of physics so that during marathon training, the same amount of work could somehow be much less time-consuming.
I used to think I’d wish to be faster. I think a part of me will always want to be faster, or at least be able to match my old levels. But then I think – where would it end? No matter how fast you get, you will always want to be faster. When is it enough? We all run the same miles, cross the same finish lines, earn the same medals, get the same accomplishment. I’ll always want to improve through hard work, but I am starting to feel so over the obsession with being a faster runner.
I think when we work hard at running we want to see positive changes, which usually means faster times. But I agree, its not all about that! I would be ok with not getting faster if running could just feel good.
I would love more time to run in general, or rather more daylight to run in I guess, and not having to sacrifice sleep just to run!
Exactly! At least the longer days will be here soon!
I’m with you on the frustration of working hard but not seeing the results. After finally getting some speed back after a lengthy stress fracture, I was smacked again with some foot issues to resolve. I did run a PR in the marathon distance earlier this year. But it was only my third one.
I always feel like I take 2 steps forward and 1 (or 2) steps back. Its frustrating to have a set back after a successful race, but Im sure you will get back to where you were quickly.
I agree about being injury-free. And I absolutely agree about not being rushed. Between running, coaching, blogging, housework, and juggling kids, I feel like I’m constantly rushing from one thing to the next. I keep telling myself one day things will settle down. But I fear that’s not actually true.
As for #3… do you have a running coach? I only ask because I think without one I wouldn’t be able to complete the workouts I need to improve speed and stamina, even though I’m a running coach and coach others. Sometimes it’s beneficial to have a coach for the coach.
I worked with a running coach for my last marathon in the fall of 2015. If and when I get back to training for a race I would probably work with one again.
I can definitely agree with you that the days do seem to be so rushed and non-stop, blurring together. I really like the concept of this post though, and your 3 wishes too!! My wishes would probably be similar to yours!
The days really do go by quickly! Theres never enough time to do everything I want to do.
I remember how I felt when I was finally able to run injury free after suffering for 18 months with ITBS, it was glorious and I didn’t even care how fast I was.
Running pain free after dealing with an injury is the best feeling!
Iam with ya on #1 fo sho!
Wouldn’t that be the best?!
Running injury-free seems to be a big one. I guess it just goes to show you that runners have their minds in the same place.
Yes! Well its definitely something too many of us deal with and it gets in the way of all our other goals.
I agree on all of these, though I didn’t mention all of them in my wishes (they certainly were there in the grand scheme of everything, though). It’s been fun reading about everyone’s wishes!
It would be great if there really was a running genie to help us out with all these wishes!
I’m right there with you on all those wishes, especially number two. This year does seem much busier and more hectic than previous years. It’s only February and I’m already dreaming about taking a vacation!
Yes, there is never enough time in the day and the days/weeks/months are just flying by!
Yes my first wish would also be to run as much as I would like and stay injury free. I really think some bodies are just not made for it.
I am so jealous of those people who never get hurt! It would be great to not have to worry about it anymore.
I’ve been running almost 25 years and I’ve been relatively injury free during that time. Now that I’m getting older (heck, I’m there, I think!), it’s not really injuries that are the problem, but that I have a lot of issues due to all the years of running (and yes, the aging process). So my wish would just to be to stay young I guess! Or if that won’t work, to be able to work out some of the issues that cause me pain, not when I run, but the hip/knee pain (arthritis for the most part) that I deal with throughout the day.
Thats a good wish! Im sure its frustrating to have issues that bother you when you’re not running. But I guess its good that they don’t hurt while you are running!
Yes to running injury free! That would be a very glorious experience 🙂
It really would be the best!
Time is a big one for me. I wish the clock would stop when I am running!
It would be so great to have more time for running!
I have to agree that my #1 wish would be to be injury free. Always. Until that genie comes along, I’ll keep doing all that I can not to get injured! Including knocking on wood all the time!
Yes, definitely! I would do whatever it takes to not get injured anymore.
send that genie my way! 🙂 I want my shoulder to heal so I can run long distances again! 🙂
If I find the genie I will definitely send it your way! Hope you heal up!
Injury free is a great wish! I’m always concerned about that especially with each increase. I don’t want another year of being out of commission.
I think once we have experienced a big injury we will always worry about getting hurt again!
I am 100% with you on #1 and #2. #3 wouldn’t be bad, either. 🙂
I would love to not have to worry about an injury, and time just doesn’t seem to be on my side right now, either.
I think if I never had to deal with injury prevention it would give me alot of extra time to do other things, like run more!
Yes to your second wish! I have so many things on my list that I’d love to do if only I had more hours in the day. Heck, I don’t even have enough time to get everything done on the to do list.
I know what you mean! I feel like every day I’m just prioritizing and getting done what I can.