"Come On Get Happy"

I have the day. Day away from realworld. A day away from most everything going on. Even running. So, what I have done thus far? Not much. Yet, as I have been listening to one happy poppy Brit pop song after another it struck me - Am I Happy? The answer is yes of course, why not? Yet, like everyone, I have need for improved happiness.

Running, makes me happy. I enjoy the Happy Aches and Pain I get from it. I enjoy the personal mini achievements it provides. I enjoy the fresh air that fills my lungs. Mostly I like the direction it takes me - literally. It keeps me going forward and pressing forward with a fullness of life. After all, while running, I cannot run without thinking over all I have not done yet, and everything I want to do in life. Very positive and uplifting thing running is. I could be running on the same streets each and every day, but I am still stepping forward in life one step, or stride at a time.

I am not a fast runner. My blogging nickname is what it is, correct and accurate. I used to be much faster. Years of not running and, well, just years, have brought me to the pace I am at. I am happy with it as well. I get excited when it is faster at times. A nice glimpse of past speed, but overall I like my Slomohusky pace. It gets me to where I need to go.

Lately, I have been feeling a little chippy on the shoulder some. Chippy with regards to all the "programs" to run faster, run a marathon, or run anything or any way. Chippy, also, with so-called advice guru's who have a plan or program to get you where you need to go as a runner. It seems somewhat ironic to me. Running is about Freedom. If we are physically able, there is nothing about it that can hold any of us back. All we need to do is lace up the shoes and go, go, GO! So, then why do we contain our own motion forward based on someone else's plan for their bodies?

So, to all the Guru's out there who say you should run this (their) way or that, at this preferred pace with so many preferred miles - this is for you:

Okay, well not at you personally, but at least at all the silly plans. Most of which are simple common sense. Most, also, make me laugh on how obvious they are. I guess my independent push back self gets to the point where I think we need a Ministry of Silly Walks (or Running Plans) to contain them all.

I am running in my third Half Marathon in 5 months this weekend. In February (if I am lucky) it will be 4 HM's in 6 months. Plus, another I am registered for on St. Patty's Day in March. Each one is the result of following NO particular plan. No plan from the so-called Guru's of running. I instead decided to confound the so-called wise and do something completely different (yes, two Monty Python references in one posting).

Yes, on my own I made up my own silly plan. Not to sell, write a book, sell DVD's or stand in front of crowd with a Vince from Shamoowow Microphone around my head. I am happy to tell you what the plan is as well for free. Here it is - I did exactly what my body could do on any given day. Nothing more, nothing less. Oh, yes, I had mileage goals and some vague idea how I would like to finish those miles. Yet no plan got me there. No plan other than listening to my legs, feet, heart and mind. Like Forrest Gump, If I was tired I stopped. If my body was sore, I rested. If I was hungry, I ate. If I was thirsty I drank. If I wanted to run further, I did it. If I wanted to run shorter, I did that too. The Slomohusky Plan in nutshell.

So to everyone out there looking for "The Plan", do as the immortal words of David Cassidy once said - "Come On Get Happy." Run, find out what you can do right now, and find out what you can't do. If you want to do what you cannot - then run, eat, sleep and drink till ya can. Most of all be happy in doing it. What's the point in running 5k, 10k, 13.1, 26.2 or an Ultra distance of your choosing if your not happy. So, go ahead, "Come on Get Happy!"

Cheers!