I’m a Runner, Not a Track Star and It’s Hard.

I started running as an adult and it was a means to an end to get fit, stay fit and sane. Plus, my partner did road races and it was fun to be out with thousands of people on an early weekend morning and it is a good way to be alone. I used to run regularly, but I have fallen off, completely. But once a runner always a runner. I am a runner. I just have to run. I even got a dog to help me get back in step, but he has his own agenda and me getting miles in — is not it. I have vowed to myself to get miles in and I have all the gear and even joined a virtual run club. And unfortunately the only thing left for me to do is run. Running is hard. It is not fun. It doesn’t get easier, for me, but I know for a fact that it works, for me. And I lied to you. It does get easier — eventually. The time space continuum in between me on couch and me on the trail is immense.

But goals is what I do. So, 5k — 5 times a week is the goal. Which is great if you run a 10 min mile you will be done in 30 minutes. I on the other hand do not run a 10,12 or 15 minute mile yet anymore. I will start off by walking but keeping the same mileage. The miles matter more than the pace. I know this because I have about a dozen or so medals from 1/2 marathons that I have completed.

I need to get my cardio endurance up and will allow myself rainy day alternatives of my maxi climber and jumping rope. If I get frisky I will jump rope after a walk to get my heart rate up.

And I have vowed to wear my apple watch to try to close these rings. The only way that I have been able to do it is to wear it all of the time, even while sleeping. I’m not used to it and I like to fling out off at the end of the day the same way that I did when I was wearing a bra daily. Last time I flung the watch so far and well, that I lost it a day or a month or two. So, I’m letting myself take it off after I have worked out to charge for an hour daily.

It is the little things that throw my whole thing routine off. I had to learn how to track my mileage for my virtual run group, and I felt old and accomplished when I figured it out how to send in my measly mileage for the week, but that is better than the big ole goose egg that was there.

So yep, that’s it. I guess I’m done procrastinating and I can get the miles in, these shoes are made for run -walking. I’ll run in the morning instead of playing Tetris in bed tomorrow. I bring treats in my pocket so my dog will slow down already until I’m able to go at his squirrel and rabbit chasing pace.