March 24th, 2013

So, I am kind of addicted to running now. All the things you hear people say they love about running that I have always blown off as "weird".....I love now.

Here is my list:

• I love the quiet time it gives me. It is just me and my brain. No phone, family, voice mail, email, etc.

• I love that it truly keeps me skinny. While I still watch what I eat, if I am running regularly, it truly is a metabolism miracle. I don't have to worry about every little morsel I eat. 

• Running is a stress shredder and I love it, and cherish it. I was working a very stressful temporary job last summer, and most of the time, I found myself wanting to run to relieve the stress rather than for the physical health of it. 

• I love being outdoors.

• I love that even on a day that feels like a "bad run", it's better than no run at all. It's a good run no matter what.

• I love running with my trusty dog. She loves to run with me. We are a great partnership, and I love having her with me.

• I love the amazing muscle tone I have. I am shocked that I have muscles places I never thought running put muscles. Abs and arms? I asked a physical therapist friend how in the world does that work?  I have always had flabby arms and a genetically given "tummy" to the point where I never ever wear clothes tucked in. Ever.

         She asked what I did with my arms while running. Of course I answered,
         swing them in control, and yes, flexing them as I go. What are my abs
         doing? she asks. I  answer they are flexed, staying in control as I twist while
         running and slightly sucked in as I control my breathing. All for about 60
         minutes straight while breathing hard. Surprise! Muscle tone! All over
         muscle tone.

• I love how I feel when I am done.

• I love when I am done I have energy instead of lacking it. 

My next half marathon is set for March 24th, and I am very nervous. I have really been battling health issues this month before the half. I have had a week of chest cold sickness, followed by a week of nasty food poisoning followed by another week of chest cold sickness. It has been impossible to do the ramp up runs one should do before a half marathon.

I went on a five mile run yesterday and it was a struggle. I need to be able to do six to seven miles effortlessly to do this like I did in December. Before the sickies, I was doing six miles, effortlessly, each run, and not even thinking about what the body was doing from moment to moment because it was doing very well. If I could say one thing I dislike about running, it doesn't take much to lose efforts gained, but it also doesn't take much to gain them back. I need to remember, even bad running days are good running days just for the fact I am running and physically fit.

I have had to have some moments of reality as I look at this coming in less than two weeks.
*I am not going to be as physically prepared.
*I will go running every other day until then to get as prepared as possible.
*After my final training run on 3/22, I will have a conversation with myself to see if I have "permission" to walk sections of the race if needed.
*I will not withdraw from the half.
*Any organized races I do....I need to realize they may not all be great. Again, at least I am out there doing it, and running!
*This half marathon will be better if only for one reason.....I won't be pelted with freezing rain.