I just want to make it clear right off the bat, I am not a runner.... At least I wasn't a runner previously. I was that kid in gym class that instead of running the mile I would walk it with a friend and we'd talk the whole time! Yes! I was the annoying one with the 25 minute mile and the whole class standing there starring at me waiting for me to get done!
At the ripe age of 30 suddenly I decide to run a 5K, that in itself was a strange decision for me! I have never been that athletic, I have had a few gym memberships in the past but was never very regular with it. For some strange reason in the summer 2013 I kept thinking maybe I should join a gym and start working out, but for real this time!
I had gone through a severe depression back in the fall 2013 which I wrote about in another blog. I was trying to conquer it without synthetic drugs, and everything I read said you should work out to release happy endorphins. I finally got myself to a point where I decided to say YES to every invitation I was given schedule permitting! One of my friends asked me to do a 5K in a tropical place, I would have 4 months to prepare so I figured why not and said yes! I immediately got signed up for the gym as it was a bitter cold winter here, I freeze when it is 60 degrees let alone 16 so running outside was not an option! I didn't even own a pair of running shoes, as I wear converse 92% of the time even with my dress pants and skirts, they just don't make good gym shoes. Luckily someone gave me a pair, they tied me over until I was able to purchase my own! I downloaded the couch to 5K app and went to running!
At the ripe age of 30 suddenly I decide to run a 5K, that in itself was a strange decision for me! I have never been that athletic, I have had a few gym memberships in the past but was never very regular with it. For some strange reason in the summer 2013 I kept thinking maybe I should join a gym and start working out, but for real this time!
I had gone through a severe depression back in the fall 2013 which I wrote about in another blog. I was trying to conquer it without synthetic drugs, and everything I read said you should work out to release happy endorphins. I finally got myself to a point where I decided to say YES to every invitation I was given schedule permitting! One of my friends asked me to do a 5K in a tropical place, I would have 4 months to prepare so I figured why not and said yes! I immediately got signed up for the gym as it was a bitter cold winter here, I freeze when it is 60 degrees let alone 16 so running outside was not an option! I didn't even own a pair of running shoes, as I wear converse 92% of the time even with my dress pants and skirts, they just don't make good gym shoes. Luckily someone gave me a pair, they tied me over until I was able to purchase my own! I downloaded the couch to 5K app and went to running!
Working out really can get addicting! It is an amazing feeling, and gives this incredible sense of accomplishment. I'm not going to lie, it is an internal struggle for me to even get to the gym, and once I'm parked I sit in my car and contemplate going in for a minimum of 5 minutes each time. I have never reversed out of the parking lot or regretted going in for that matter. Once I'm in, I'm in and most of the time I give it my all! I have heard about this "runners high" unfortunately I have yet to feel it, but I will keep trying for it.
The tropical 5K fell through, so I signed up for a different 5k a month sooner here in the city. It was a night time race in March with very unpredictable weather. I had every excuse not to go, the 4 girls I invited to run with me all bailed the week before for various reasons. I finally found one of my awesome fit friends to do it with me the night before the run. The weather the night of the race was 26 degrees with precipitation. In fact, it iced later on that night and we had a two day ice storm. Anyhow we bundled up and made the best of it, our bodies were so frozen I think we walked more than we ran, but the fact of the matter is we got out there and we did it!!
I recently participated in my second 5K with the same awesome friend! Luckily for this one the weather was sunny and gorgeous, we jogged most of it even. We finished and felt amazing, there is something so rewarding about finishing the whole thing! My body was so sore the next day, but it was a good sore, what I would call battle wounds of accomplishment!
The 5k association often takes action photos, I can't help but run them with a smile on my face every time!! My next 5k is a month away and I am completely stoked! Never in a million years did I ever think I would enjoy running unless it was to get away from an axe murderer or giant people eating gorilla, but I DO enjoy running, the happy endorphins and all the health benefits!!
I challenge you to attempt a run even just once, you wont regret it! Here's to running a 10K and maybe even a half marathon in my future!!
