I started running. This is nothing new. I've run before. I've participated in races. I hated every second of it.
So why would I start again? There are a lot of reasons. I'm doing Weight Watchers (again) and I actually wanted to lose weight. Activity is a great way to do that and running is an activity.
I had friends who were on similar journies. I followed their progress on Facebook, every morning at the gym, every morning doing something. I felt their passion. I saw their results. I wanted that, oh how I wanted that.
I was inspired. I had a goal. So I laced up my shoes, walked outside and I ran. I ran 2 miles and I felt great so I did it again and again and again. I finally found what I had heard so many runners talking about, endorphins, a runner's high.
The feeling carried me through my day. I went to bed excited to get up early and do it again. There have been mornings full of sunshine where I have felt the power of something greater than myself. There have been mornings full of clouds where I knew running would clear away the clouds inside of me.
There is a time in every run where I want to quit. I can feel it coming. My body will ache, yelling do you not remember you are 43, you should be in bed. But I know that just a block or two more and that feeling will leave. It will be replaced with a feeling of calm and of strength. I yell back at my body, I am doing this because I am 43, because I am getting stronger.
I am doing this because I love it. I love every second of it.
So why would I start again? There are a lot of reasons. I'm doing Weight Watchers (again) and I actually wanted to lose weight. Activity is a great way to do that and running is an activity.
I had friends who were on similar journies. I followed their progress on Facebook, every morning at the gym, every morning doing something. I felt their passion. I saw their results. I wanted that, oh how I wanted that.
I was inspired. I had a goal. So I laced up my shoes, walked outside and I ran. I ran 2 miles and I felt great so I did it again and again and again. I finally found what I had heard so many runners talking about, endorphins, a runner's high.
The feeling carried me through my day. I went to bed excited to get up early and do it again. There have been mornings full of sunshine where I have felt the power of something greater than myself. There have been mornings full of clouds where I knew running would clear away the clouds inside of me.
There is a time in every run where I want to quit. I can feel it coming. My body will ache, yelling do you not remember you are 43, you should be in bed. But I know that just a block or two more and that feeling will leave. It will be replaced with a feeling of calm and of strength. I yell back at my body, I am doing this because I am 43, because I am getting stronger.
I am doing this because I love it. I love every second of it.
I need to do some more running... Ever since we got a dog last year, I spend that exercise time walking. The dog. Walking is great and I love it - but being able to run 4 miles (I consider this my max - more just hurts my knees) makes me feel STRONG.
ReplyDeleteI hate running. But I love you ;-)
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