Running

Let me share with you something else that I have been up to this summer....I took up...running.  Okay, not mindblowing, yet consider this, I have tried many times in my life to be a runner, it never really took.  I could not find my groove with it, there was no flow, it felt hard, and hurt my knees.  I could never really run for me than a few minutes without my mind screaming at me to stop.

I have always in some way wanted to be able to run.  I would watch other runners and some part of me would think how awesome it was, and how I wish I could do it.  After some trying, and it not really working, my mind would automatically begin to look at runners, and become negative...that does not look like fun, how boring, they are going to need knee surgery..and on and on (you could call it protective mode).

Yet, for some reason this summer, looking to get more fit, and becoming really bored (I mean really bored of the treadmill and walking indoors), I decided to try again. It was one of those wonderful things that was not overly thought through  - this can be wonderful and warm and good for me personally. I purchased a running app, meant to take you from being a non-runner to after 9 weeks, being able to run 5 km.  So, I started running at 30 second intervals at the beginning of the summer - this was hard for me.  In the last week I have run over 10 km in total and can know run  20 minutes without stopping - this is quite an accomplisment for me!!!!! 

To motivate me, I registered for a local fun run, a 5km run that is taking place in the next month, and asked a friend to join me.  Again, this was not something that occurred to me, and not thought through until I saw an advertisement at the local sports store.  My husband and kids are also in on the fun, and they have been biking beside me while I run - this is so much fun to be doing this together and all getting some exercise!  I learned that I need to be outside, and I need a goal - I am goal oriented that way - it helps me to stay motivated (along with an everchanging playlist of music).   I have learned that the goal can not be - to be healthy, it has to be something concrete that I can achieve that I did not think I could - like running 5 km!!!  I like thinking of myself as someone who can run - it makes me feel good and sometimes strong - I especially like that about 7 weeks ago, I could not run more that 30 seconds without being out of breath.  I like that we are doing it as a family, and that I am outside!!!!

I am grateful for my body, my mind, my family and my chance to achieve and run....Here is to keeping pace and catching your stride!