Running

                                      
Running is something I thought I would never enjoy. Now I want everyone to see the amazingness that is running. Let's start at the beginning.

I think when I was little I loved running. I remember running the mile in elementary school. They gave us popsicle sticks to count our laps. I thought it was so cool. I would put them in between my fingers and pretend I was a raptor or something. It was freeing, and it wasn't hard. We just went outside and ran around the track for 4 laps. If we were timed, I don't remember it.

Fast forward to middle school. This is where running lost its appeal. You see, I grew up in Houston, TX and school started in the beginning of August. It was hot and humid. I'm probably exaggerating, but it was at least 95 degrees and 100% humidity. We didn't run on the track because it got so hot. We would go across the street to this fitness trail in the park because it was shaded. We had to do it. And we were timed. I was never the slowest, but I was far from the fastest. And I hated it. I just stopped enjoying running...

Now High School different states, half in VA half in MA. In VA my friends hated running too, so I never really cared. In MA however, my closest friends all ran cross country. They tried to convince me running was fun. But I held my ground. I did let one of them convince me that if I just got in shape and ran I would learn to love it. I believed her because of the way she talked about running. She loved running in the rain, and she didn't care how fast or how far she was going. She just went. So I went running with her a few times. I don't think it was more than a mile. I died. I couldn't breathe and my lungs hurt. (I'm pretty sure I have exercise induced asthma, although I have never been diagnosed) So I gave up and continued along with my life doing other fitness and cardio activities.

As I said in my first post, I always did active things. Just none of them included running. Then one day in the middle of ChaLEAN Extreme! (review on that later) I decided that if I really wanted to be a fit person, I needed to start running. I did it begrudgingly. Why would I suddenly enjoy something I so adamantly opposed before? So I talked to my sister-in-law and she convinced me to try a race. She said she would run it with me, and if I didn't like running after that then I could stop. So we signed up for the Beat the New Year 5k by the Salt Lake City Running club, and I started training.

I fell in love. It was cold and bitter and miserable, but I loved it. I love running!! I never thought I would ever say that but I do. I have now only run 3 races (the first 5k, my Thelma and Louise Half, and the Color Run) and I am signed up to run another Half with one of my Blondes. I am spreading the love of running!

So the moral of the story is: Don't let one bad experience (or a lifetime of PE) ruin running for you. Try it out. Sign up for a race and train for it. It is freeing and meditative. Your body is built for running like nothing else. I count my breaths while I run. In for 3 out for 2. It relaxes me and it helps me think through my problems, or it helps me not think at all.  So GO! It is free. All you need are some sneakers and a road. Also, my friend from High School was right. Running in the rain is the best feeling in the world.