I’m currently reading the book Bravey by Olympic runner, Alexi Pappas. Aside from blasting through 6.2 miles faster than it takes any of us to watch a Stranger Things episode (except episodes from season 4 where they near Tarantino length), she’s applauded for openly sharing her intense struggle with a severe depression that attacked her after she shattered the Greek national record in the 2016 Olympics. And, if you remember from my last BriRun Blog, brawling with severe depression (and outrageously, wild curly hair) is something she and many of us have in common.
As for running 10,000 meters in 31 minutes and 36 seconds, f*** no.
Among scads of adages and surprisingly relatable stories you wouldn’t expect from an Olympian, one of her first, self-authored poems she shares is:
Run like a bravey,
Sleep like a baby,
Dream like a crazy,
Replace can’t with maybe.
I like that.
I don’t have time here to explain what “Bravey” means because I’m hopping on a plane to San Francisco in a few hours with Baby and husband packed in my checked luggage (just kidding; they’ll be carry-ons), but I do highly recommend this book to runners, dreamers, and those slowly repairing from physical or mental injuries—really anyone who could use some different approaches to facing Life in their arsenal. For me, it’s been a healthier choice compared to the crime and kidnapping books/podcasts I usually absorb.
As for training, I fret that I haven’t done anything above 10 miles in a single day. And, if we do some marathon math, that’s just enough to say another 16.2 miles will probably be breezy. Ha!
I am happy to report that during some of those runs, I’ve felt like I could go on forever if I didn’t have to scurry back to tend to a 1-year-old. There were also some runs where I was as dwindled as Rocky is during the first workout scene where he plunders his way through Philly and practically crawls up the Philadelphian Museum of Art steps. The important part is, we get out and do it.
Thank you, everyone for reading and your treasured responses I received from last week’s BriRun Blog. I’m glad we’re doing this together.
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