A Running Victory

I’ve never been a fan of running. I ran track in high school but did hurdles and sprints (and I wasn’t very fast). A few times in my life I’ve taken up running for a couple months for exercise and weight loss reasons but never enjoyed it so didn’t stick with it.

Until this past summer.

For whatever reason, I started to kind of like it. I think because there’s a cool trail by where I live that takes me to the downtown area. I would run there, which was 3 miles, stop at the ice cream shop and get a diet coke, and water, then walk home.

Just me and some music enjoying the outdoors.

Before I realized it, the 3 miles became easy (though I was still slow) which made me enjoy it more. Especially since running has NEVER been easy for me.

I decided to challenge myself to run more. I got where I could run 5 miles and not feel like I wanted to die. I was pretty pumped about that. I felt like a real runner.

Once the cold weather set in, I started running on the treadmill.

Which I absolutely hate.

But the useful thing about a treadmill is you can set the speed, and you have to keep up so I decided I would make the best of the treadmill situation and work on increasing my speed.

From super slow to just slow.

I’ve been running exclusively on the treadmill for about a month and this past Saturday it was 40 degrees so I decided to venture outside. I put in my ear buds and put on some tunes and took off down the path.

I felt good.

That good feeling turned to shock when the voice inside the running app I use told me I had run a mile in 10:34. Yes, I know that is still slow, but I usually am at least a minute slower.

I was amazed that I didn’t feel like I was going to die. I felt great. It was so motivating to know that I have increased my speed.

Now if only I can stop eating peanut butter cookies.

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