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I have now been running 3-4 times a week for the past 13 weeks. I have never run or worked out this consistently in my life. I have of course lost no weight because I enjoy eating bad foods way too much, but I've also never felt healthier and more in control of my body. Currently each Saturday I have a "long" run and I add a mile each weekend. Before two weeks ago, I'd never run longer than 3 miles ever and those were only for 5k's that well intentioned friends and family forced me to sign up for. This last weekend, I ran 6 miles. SIX! I know other people run that regularly and it's not that big a deal, but that is HUGE for me! If anyone knows me well, you'll know that I'm not athletic and I don't like sweating. Trying to run four times a week and for long distances is not something I naturally enjoy.
But training has given me such a sense of accomplishment especially now that I keep up-ing my weekend run. Every single weekend I run further than I've ever run in my life. It doesn't matter if it's not a good run or if I get a terrible time because I have never before intentionally moved my body in a forward motion without the aid of a vehicle or something for that distance. I get such a high after knowing that even if I had to walk and I wanted to catch a cab to finish the mileage, I actually did it on my own. I took control of my body and it did what I wanted it to do.
I've learned that running is at least 50% mental (I think it's more but we'll just say 50% cause that's a nice number : ) I have to remember that I can physically do this. I may feel like my legs have turned into wooden stumps and my ankle wants to snap off and my knee cap is going to throb right out of my skin, but I can do this, I have done this. All the way up to the new extra mile, I've done it all before and I'll survive. At the beginning I was talking to my mom about the trainng (she's going to run with me too!) and she said "I just have to remember that the second I stop running, the pain goes away, so why not run just a little bit further and deal with the pain and reach your goal a little bit faster." I try to remember that a lot when I want to quit. It's about making little goals for yourself and then trying to go just 5 more blocks. Because if you push it and go those extra 5 blocks you'll get that high sense of accomplishment again that will help carry you through the next 20 blocks.
I think I've really started to like running. And it scares me just a little.
3 comments:
Isn't it amazing? I feel the same way. I am so not a runner, but every time I go I just feel great. I wish I could go to Boston with y'all (I'm still working on it and might be able to, but we'll see). There's a half/full in October that I want to do. Yayay for running!!!
i am so excited that everyone has caught the running BUG... it is fun to be in pain together!!!! xoxxoo hope you find a place by us soon so we can all go running together!
Congrats, Maddie! And as someone who has known you for most of your life, I'm definitely even more impressed because you liked working out about as much as I did. (meaning, not at all)
I'm trying to start running consistently too, but right now it's my least favorite type of work out, because I cramp up in the same spot (upper right ribcage, about a half mile in) no matter what I do. I think it's a muscle length thing - one side is longer than the other. But I'm trying to see if I can fix it.
I've also been doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred dvd for the last two weeks - I really like it because it kicks my butt (seriously, it kills me) in only 25 minutes. It's super short, so I make myself do it everyday. I feel like I get a much better workout than than when I run, but running is something you can do for life, so I'm trying to pick it up.
Anyways, I'm sending huge congratulations your way. If you can find a way to really enjoy running, your life is definitely going to be healthier in the long run. It's a habit we should all pick up. :D
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