Running In Place

Let’s talk about running. That’s what this blog was for, at first – a record of my stumbling path to being a runner. Which I was, once. And plan to be again. Personal shit may incidentally make an appearance in new stories of the run, but the personal shit will no longer be the story itself. How does that sound? Good?? Good!!

Today, I ran outside for the first time since early April ‘07. It was 23F with a little bit of biting wind and I was kind of bumming. I’ve been running on the treadmill at the gym for maybe a month now with my friend Denise – doing running/walking intervals – and it’s been good to get moving again, but the treadmill is kind of a drag. And you forget, even when you put it on an incline, how much the belt moves you along. So suffice to say that today’s run exacted a little more effort than I had previously been putting forth. I was happy to plod out 1.5 miles without walk breaks and felt warm and energized as I did some additional walking after. It’s humbling to start over (I know well, as I seem to keep doing it) but I’m working hard not to kick myself for not running as fast or as far as I did way back whenever – I had to start at the beginning then too.

I’ve also got a cool 20 divorce-pounds packed on over the past year so although I was *dying* for a fried egg & cheese sandwich this morning, I ran, stretched and finished it all up with a bowl of Kashi & strawberries with soy milk. I can’t say I’m not still thinking about that egg sandwich but it’s easier to continue doing good things for yourself once you start. Well, so far.