Skip to main content

Sweaty Hugs

I like my personal space. I don't like it when someone I don't know sits in the chair right next to me at church. I don't like when someone stands too close to me in line. And since my kids are an extension of me, I didn't like it when strangers would touch my babies. And I still don't like it when kids I don't know touch my girls when we are at the park, at school, etc. And when someone I don't know very well asked me if I wanted to hold her baby the other day, I didn't want to be rude so I held that baby. But I didn't want to.

I'm just not a touchy-feely in-your-space kind of gal.

So I'm sure you could guess I'm not a big hugger. I rarely hug people the first time I meet them. I even have relatives I am not entirely comfortable hugging.

I started thinking about this when I was looking through the pictures on my computer this morning and saw these:




When it comes to the runnerd in me, I am all about hugging. It's funny how running can bring you together. Whether it's snuggling together for a photo in front of the port-a-potties before a marathon or sweaty hugs and group photos after a half marathon, I never hesitate to get or give a hug. At first I tried to blame it on the runner's high dulling my personal space senses, but the port-a-potty photo BEFORE the race is proof against that theory.

The truth is there is something about running that connects us. Running isn't just something we do to burn calories or stay fit. For RUNNERS, there is emotion connected to running. And it is that emotion that comes out when I feel that urge to hug a runner I know - or sometimes even just recognize from the bloggy world. So if you ever see me at a race, you better watch out. There might be a sweaty hug coming your way.

Have you hugged a runner lately?
Labels:

Comments

  1. PennyJanuary 25, 2012 at 4:55 PM

    I'm not a hugger either! That said - I get very emotional at races so there's always a little hugging and a little crying at the end!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Running RicigJanuary 25, 2012 at 6:08 PM

    I am super uncomfortable when people touch me, even with family sometimes. I can't say that I've noticed a difference at short races, but after the marathon I could have hugged ANYONE. I was so happy it was like I was on drugs :).

    ReplyDelete
  3. Christy @ My Dirt Road Anthem: A Runner's BlogJanuary 25, 2012 at 6:50 PM

    I think running does bring out the hug in all of us. I have hugged people after races that I would hardly talk to outside of running.

    ReplyDelete
  4. MR DETERMINEDJanuary 25, 2012 at 6:51 PM

    I'm not a hugger either, which seems odd that I turned out this way since my whole family is huggers. I feel like the the Marilyn Munster of the family when group family hugs happen. I'm going to do my first race in March, I'll let you know if there is any hugging. I have a feeling there will be. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. MichelleJanuary 25, 2012 at 9:08 PM

    Love hugging my running girls!

    ReplyDelete
  6. ChristiJanuary 26, 2012 at 7:26 AM

    I love hugs from my friends be they runners or not so if I happen to meet ya at a race, I will take sweaty runner's hug. Thanks! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. misszippyJanuary 26, 2012 at 8:53 AM

    I'm with you on this...I'm not a very touchy feely person. But, with running, it IS different! Great insight on this topic!

    ReplyDelete
  8. LauraJanuary 26, 2012 at 9:31 AM

    Oh my...this is SO me. My hubs comes from a huge huggy family and it is just so not me and uncomfy. And yet with my run buds we are all about the hugs and high fives.
    Maybe because we all know what we go through in training!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Rachelle WardleJanuary 26, 2012 at 10:14 AM

    I could not agree more with this. I am the exact same as you....totally not touchy feely at all! Infact I can't stand it when people I barely know hug me....so awkward! But I totally agree about the running connection. I will hug just about any sweaty runner after a race, before a race, even during the race at UVM. How strange....I may be thinking about this the rest of the day. ha ha!

    ReplyDelete
  10. WhitneyJanuary 26, 2012 at 3:43 PM

    I need another Candice hug. Now where do I have to run to get one?

    ReplyDelete
  11. AliciaJanuary 30, 2012 at 12:18 PM

    Yay! That's our PR hug. Great day!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Annette@(running)In the Right DirectionFebruary 1, 2012 at 7:19 PM

    totally feel ya on the personal space thing...and ABSOLUTELY feel ya on the running connection thing.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love your comments! They make my day, so be sure to let me know you stopped by. And I always try to respond to your comments, so let me know if you have any questions for me or if there is anything you want to see on here!

Popular posts from this blog

Carpet Burn On My Butt (and a giveaway)

After two lame, pathetic, lackluster weeks of running, I woke up excited to run yesterday. And today, I wore my running clothes all morning in anticipation of my nap time run today. Even in spite of sore glutes and tired quads from getting in some P90X Core Synergistics last night, I couldn't wait to get moving on Millie. I am a planner. Today I had a plan to get my run in while my girls slept, and my day was organized accordingly. I am also a creature of habit. The first thing I do when I roll out of bed every single day is make my bed and my girls' beds. If I do something else first, it throws off the entire morning. I am a creature of habit when it comes to my running routines as well. There are a few things that differ depending on whether I am running on Millie or outside, whether my girls are asleep or not, and whether or not they are joining me in the jogger. Yet, no matter when, where, how far or with whom I run, some things are always the same. My hair goes into a pony
177 comments
Read more

I wasn't sure going in...

Yep, I'm checking in. Why? Because I did something completely out of my comfort zone that I wanted to share with you. Last week I went to a place near Salt Lake called Dexa Body, where I got a DEXA Scan. For those unfamiliar with what that is, I asked Google to help us out:  "Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry  ( DXA , previously  DEXA ) is a means of measuring  bone mineral density  (BMD). Two  X-ray  beams, with different  energy levels , are aimed at the patient's  bones . When  soft tissue   absorption is subtracted out, the  bone mineral density  (BMD) can be determined from the absorption of each beam by bone. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is the most widely used and most thoroughly studied bone density measurement technology." Since that is pretty medical sounding, here's my take. A DEXA Scan is a tool to measure your total body composition. It specifically breaks down the regional composition of your lean and fat tissue. It gives a fat distribution
162 comments
Read more

Social Media: Some good, a lot of bad, and way too much ugly

There are a lot of good things that come from social media. We can connect with people we have lost touch with. We can unite as a group (runners!!) with a comment interest. We can promote a good cause. Sadly though, what social media does best is makes us feel bad about ourselves and makes us feel negatively towards others. This isn't just my opinion, although I can unquestionably support the truth behind this based on my own experience. I have spent way too much time feeling bad about myself as a result of comparing myself to others based on their Instagram or Facebook versions of themselves. And there are several people I have started feeling negatively about or have become completely annoyed with because of their IG and FB posts. It isn't just me though. There are actual studies that can back me up on the negative impact social media can have. I have read dozens of articles reviewing many different studies that show the overwhelmingly negative (vs. positive) effec
275 comments
Read more