Posted on November 5, 2022•By John Kraijenbrink•Column

Am I happier not running?

Okay, this title is totally click bait. Of course I am happier running than not running. It’s just that at this moment I’m wondering if I am happier running myself or seeing Sara run. It’s that look on her face. That smile, that ecstasy, when she has completed a run, that makes me super happy.

This morning we went out together again. Sara running, me biking, as I’m running the Smokkelaars Trail Twente tomorrow. She ran for 20 minutes, walked 2 and ran another 14.30 minutes. The plan was to do 20 plus 10 minutes, but she was doing so well, I let her run more; till the corner.

She’s a Pitta

It was a perfect morning again. Just like yesterday. A bit colder, but she’s a Pitta. Cold is good. Okay, Pitta probably is something you haven’t heard of, unless you’re a yogi. I’ll explain it to you soon. It comes from Ayurveda. Some people are Pitta, others Vata or Kapha. Knowing what you are, will help you as a runner.

I never had a girlfriend that is a serious runner. I’ve had girlfriends that ran, or tried to run, but never seriously. Susan was a fitness girl, who would go for a run every now and then. I can’t remember us running together. Annemiek used to play water polo and loved wakeboarding. We ran together a couple of times, but nothing serious. Running wasn’t really her thing, and my ankles didn’t like it back then.

Sara’s training schedule

Maybe it’s not just Sara running, maybe it’s also an ego thing. See, I’ve made Sara’s training schedule. I wanted it to be the easiest schedule ever to start running. It’s definitely working for her. I think that’s a big part of the fun I have as well.

She says she’s feeling good. Fitter, stronger. A little bit less fluffy around the waist. She always liked to walk together. Walking is okay, but walking is not running. I mean, if I have to run on my own, and walk with Sara, that takes up a lot of time. Now we can run together or she joins me for a part of my training. That saves time, and is more fun.

On top of that, Christmas and Sara’s birthday are coming up. Now she is a runner, I have new gifts to give her. Two she already got. A pair of Brooks running shoes and a Compress running belt. But there is more to come….

John Kraijenbrink

I run for fun. I run to be in the mountains, in the forest. I run, because running fascinates me. That’s why I study all the science about running. What I discover, I share with you. To help you to be a better runner, but above all to help you having fun running.

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