Seduced By Fitness

I told them that I wouldn't forget them.  I told them that "One day when the mood strikes....I WILL have my way with you".  Today....was....that....day....

It was a decent day.  The sun was shining and it was finally warmer than 38*F.  I got out of work; ran an errand; came home.  The whole way home, the sun was teasing me with it's warm caress.  The wind died down almost begging me to enjoy it. 

I couldn't see them at first, but when I got home I heard them calling my name.

I walked over and gently touched the laces....they giggled a bit.  I said "Today I am in the mood and I hope you are ready".  They were aroused at the thought of what we would do and where we would go.  I left them panting while I changed.  I got my coat on.  I put my ear warmers on (which I got for christmas and also double as headphones!  THANKS MOM AND DAD!!).  I slipped my coat on and got my GPS and music ready.

They were last.  They knew they would be.  I loosed the laces and slowly slipped into them.  It was a snug fit, but it felt amazing.  I tightened up the laces and took a quick walk around the house.  I missed that feeling.  I was awakened by it and felt my inner need to start what I had set out to do.


RUN!

Yeah, I am the next E.L. James right???  BAHAHAHAHAHA

So, off I went.  I was so nervous to run since I haven't gone since what, before Thanksgiving!?  So as I am running I almost talk myself out of it.  "It's too cold" "My feet feel funny" "My legs are already sore" "My arms feel awkward".  However, as quickly as I thought those things, they drifted away while I listened to my playlist, kept my head up, hands relaxed and started to run.

I hit the first mile and started to slow down.  I was used to running 3+ days a week and I haven't ran in 2 months!  I kept pushing and at one point I was running at 13:02 and got pissed.  I picked up the pace and made it back home at 2.10 miles.   I knew I had to start off slow, so I stopped and walked another mile.  I could have ran, but I knew not to push it.  I ran a mile at work Tuesday and was a little sore Wednesday.  I don't even want to know how I will feel tomorrow :)

So I came home, put my shoes away again.  I looked back and reassured them that I would be more

gentle next time, but they needed to be prepared to go a little longer.  It may be months before I run outside again, but it felt amazing and I FEEL AMAZING!  It was what I needed to get back into it!

Tomorrow is 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels and I KNOW she is going to work me hard ;)

~ <3 ~
Me

Don't Piss In The Wind

Or spit for that matter!  So one icky thing with running is that I get REALLY flemmy.  Like mucus is suffocating me.  So, I read online to make sure you spit.  For me, if I don't, I will physically be sick at the end of my run.  SO, I have learned to spit quite well.

HOWEVER!  I went for a run this morning.  The weather here in Northeastern Ohio is AMAZING right now.  A bit off topic, but I have been running outside a lot.  ANYWHO!  I get to a point where I am having a hard time breathing and swallowing, so I hocker one up and spit into the street.  I was MORTIFIED when this woman runs up right behind me.  I probably almost spit on her if she didn't get at least a misting.

I was SO embarrassed and apologized.  She just smiled and said "Good Morning" after her horrified look that she almost got nailed in the face.  I seriously couldn't believe I had done that.  Why didn't I look?  OH WELL!  She passed my slow ass right up and kept on going.

Other than that awful event, my run was so nice!  I ran 4.5 miles and walked the remaining to hit just over 5 miles.  Felt great!  I am super sore, but I burned like 800 some calories!  So, I use My Fitness Pal to track my food and my fitness.  I have a Garmin Forerunner GPS (purchased it with a company called Hear Rate Monitors USA) watch which I use with a heart rate monitor.  I love it because it takes into consideration my weight, distance, and my heart rate to figure out calories burned.  I knew I had to have burned quite a few because the course I took was pretty steep with some inclines, so it gave me a good work out.  I wasn't going for speed.  I just wanted to do 4 miles and I passed that! 

This honestly has been the best thing I purchased when I started running.  Yes, the clothes are nice, and my Fitbit One is amazing with tracking steps.  BUT, I like exact measurements and this item makes me so happy!  I recommend one to everyone!  I sync it with a website I joined (for free) called Map My Run.  Amazing website and if you don't have the Garmin, or another device to sync with it, you can figure out your course on their website and it will tell you everything you need or want to know! 

The combination of the two of them has helped me immensly.  I like graphs and maps.  Most of all I like knowing exactly how far I have gone and how many calories I have burned.  I like numbers.  Numbers show progress.

It's amazing looking back when I started in the beginning of May 2013 and could barely do that mile.  PLUS that was a combination of running and walking with my Couch to 5k App.  Looking back it seems silly that I couldn't do it.  HOWEVER!  I was a 203 lb almost 31 year old woman of two children that hadn't stuck with a damn thing dealing with my health and exercise.  Now I am down 26 lbs and am feeling amazing.  I have my moments of back tracking, but I find my way back because I miss it!

I honestly can say that I REALLY enjoy running.  I wouldn't say love....quite yet....but I am getting there!  When I don't run I feel run down and tired.  When I run I feel energized and so much better ab out myself!  One of the ladies I worked with made me chuckle!  I brought my running clothes to work Wednesday last week for a VERY cold run around the office.  She looked at me and said "Look at you!  You really are a runner now!". 

She was right!  I don't dread running.  I don't hate it.  I don't say "Oh I hate running.", "I'll only run if something is chasing me.".  NOPE!  I am a runner.  It feels amazing and I enjoy running.  It is a part of my life now and it makes me happy.  Thank you May of 2013 and what you changed in me and for me.  I couldn't imagine my life any other way.  Well, other than maybe winning the lottery or something :)

AMEN!

~ <3 ~
Me