Running

I have been slow to embrace exercising as an adult. I don't know why this is, because I was a very active kid and teen. I was on the school volleyball, softball, gymnastics and track teams. I did city league fast-pitch ball, and gymnastics at a rec center. I water skied, ice skated, roller skated and swam any time I had the chance, and was always up for a sport activity. Plus I danced, any time I had a chance...from age 14 on. Sweet Fancy Moses...those were good times.

In college, I did gymnastics, ballroom dance, swam and ran sometimes, and was generally more active (no car, big campus and I had a mountain bike).

After college I discovered roller blading which I would do with a couple different friends when we lived in Chicago. At least 3-4 nights a week I would meet Zu or Kar and we would blade for hours and hours. It was glorious to race along the path on Lake Michigan, with the wind and sun on our faces and the water shining and glistening on the side and the conversation flowing back and forth as we spent that time together. Then they both moved away and I had my first child, and the last 12 years have passed with various stages of (in)activity. I lost the love of the game or something. I'm not sure what.

Meanwhile, I am surrounded by people, starting with Doc, who regularly exercise, and who also enjoy it. They're in great physical shape, and the cardio and strength benefits can't be overstated. I get all this, but for some reason have had a devil of a time making exercise a consistent, effective part of my life.

I'm working hard to change that right now, with the help of a particular drill sergeant. It's been a process, but I'm starting to get there. With the help of a few lovely friends who have gone out running with me recently, I've been getting past the initial hurdle of actually going. I'm trying to build up my knee strength so that I don't incur an injury...which has always been the case when I attempted to become a runner in the past. Then I just give up altogether till the next time I get the motivation to try again. I hope this time is different. I'm going so slow that people who are walking are the same speed. This may embarrass some people, but I'm grateful they put up with me "running" along side them while they walk.

So with that said, I should write that an odd thing happened on my run day before yesterday.

I finished my 30 minutes of running, and actually kind of felt like running more. So even though I could have walked, I kept running. And since I had a friend with me, it was actually not boring, and for the first time EVER EVER EVER I didn't just feel grumpy that running is something important (like washing dishes) that you just have to make yourself do your whole life. In fact, I felt like I sort of wanted to go out more that day...but didn't because I'm trying to follow the plan and go easy on the knees.

Then today I went to meet the same friend for our 2nd run together, but when I got there she wasn't home. So I ended up going alone. With no ipod or anything to "entertain" myself with.

And I went 43 minutes and didn't hate it. Again.

I don't know how this is happening, but can I just say how glad I am? I guess I've just needed a drill sergeant in my life all these years.