The Run

I had convinced myself after running my last 10k that running did nothing to change my body. I trained for 8 weeks, ran the race, and well.... that was it. Then I convinced myself a month later that I still wasn't happy with my body.  I had an almost 2-year-old baby and I still felt gross.

Insert Insanity.  I did it. It was insane.  The first month was a challenge, but got easier.  Then the second month it just got crazy.  I'll never forget Shaun T's words, "don't give up!" I didn't, I kept going and I finished.  My body changed a tiny bit. I lost 5 pounds, but my body didn't change as drastically as I'd hoped.

Months went by.

In January I started working at the Y and I got a membership - Drew was convinced I'd never work out.  I wanted to prove him wrong.  So I agreed to work 8 hours a week off-site and on-site.  I'm a healthy-U instructor and I love it!  I teach kids how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and we get to play games with them for about an hour at a time.  I'd work out a little here and a little there.

My boss Monica is also a trainer and I'd often confide in her and tell her my body struggles.  Her response was constantly "run, it will change your life".  She'd give me different things to try and of course I never did it. Because last year it didn't change my life. And I just never found the time because I'd fill my mornings with things to do with the kids.  Then, I'd work in the afternoon a few days a week.  Then I'd come home and start dinner and fulfill other commitments, bath time, bed time and the day is over.

I wasn't finding time to work out.  When I worked that was working out right?  Wrong.

After I came back from Haiti I was dealing with culture shock.  Not culture shock to Haiti. Culture shock coming back into the US.  How can that be you ask? I don't know.  But what I can tell you is that it was really hard.  My head was processing and dealing with things that had nothing to do with Haiti.  But like all things, I needed to deal with it on my own - with God.  I don't ever like to involve/invite other parties to my "stuff". EVER. Not Even Drew. I'm an independent kinda girl. Always have been. Probably always will be.

So I took to running it out.  It worked really well in college.  Why not try it now? So I started out slow and here's what I've learned:

*Once you pass about mile 2.25 your body just goes and you can run forever.  At least that's how I feel. {If you have good form.} I've been running 5 or more miles at a time! I also continually increase my speed because my legs kick it into high gear.

*Music accompanied by TV subtitles are an excellent distraction for the mind.  You're brain is so focused on other things that it forgets how much your body tells you it doesn't want to keep running. When I say you, I mean me. I love it, because when I run outside, that's all I ever hear from my body is, "stop running, stop running, seriously stop running, you don't need to run."

*Having a water bottle with a straw is so awesome when you run because you can keep refueling your body. Some people feel like they want to throw up.  NEVER the case here.  I can exercise on a full stomach.

*A towel is handy to wipe your face with.

So I will say this, pairing running with my "frustrations" {if you will} for the last month has really jumpstarted a new love for running. Monica was right, it IS changing my life! It has helped heal my mind and my body in ways I didn't think possible.  My only goal is to run 3 times a week and on off days do other forms of cardio or yoga/pilates.

I also got to thinking the other day during a run, I really need to be spending more time with God whether it's reading the word or flat out praying. As much as I exercise my body, I should be exercising my spiritual life....   New Goals!

Happy Wednesday Friends!