Not For You...

I woke up one day and decided, by some stretch of the imagination, that I was going to run. I had never really run distances before, just on the treadmill here and there. Yep...I was going to do it.

So, I signed up for a Learn to Run clinic. I wasn't really sure what to expect and I was nervous to say the least.

The night of the first class, my leader takes me out to do 1 and 1's..run one minute, walk one minute. I am like, alllrightyyyy...I am on it! So I take off like a bat out of H-E-Double Hockey Sticks, leaving the leader behind to eat my dust. She is like, "Wait uppppp". I am doing great!

So ok..I got the first minute in, barely, then we are walking. Next run interval comes up....I start getting tired....have to stop before the timer goes off. This sucks!!! But I keep at it. I start running again and I am NOT feeling the love here. My head is starting to ache...like Fred Flintstone ache. But I keep on...1 and 1's...which really aren't. I have to walk more...I am not enjoying this. I obviously have pace issues. My head is gonna blow off my shoulders. I feel ill. I keep on.

The next round of running I stop...I cannot go any further. I am about to projectile vomit on some poor man's lawn. No one told me it wouldn't be a good idea to have Subway, with onions and peppers and Jalapenos before a run. Yeah...I am contemplating the Ugly Cry at this point.

We walk back to the Running Room, my fearless leader and I. I am feeling like lower than low. I gotta learn this thing. I have to do it right. I will perservere! I WILL survive.

Next week I was back for more punishment. But it was better, and I did it. Hank Spongepocket had nothing on my absorption at this point. I did my homework as any student who is willing to learn should. I was sucking in all the information I could.

That was April, 2009. I couldn't run for one minute. Today I can run almost 14k, I discovered one day this week. And I will run a 1/2 marathon this year too. It is my goal.

I don't know how I got to be a runner. I always looked at "those" people with awe and reverence. They were RUNNERS. They were ATHLETES. I was NOT.

Today I still find sometimes I forget I have become one of "those" people. I look in the mirror and I see a healthy, happy person who accomplished some big things looking back. I am not quite sure it is me...but I look again. Yep...I recognize her. Don't ask me to change...I like who I am and what my life stands for.

This change is me is for me....not for anyone else. I have a serenity and a driven will now when it comes to running, both fueling me on. I have some kind of strange reverie that comes over me when I am running and I see the stars in the sky and the leaves beneath my feet. I want to go further and do more and see what I am capable of. I never knew. All those years I never knew I had it in me. I know now.

The Eye of the Ipod

So last night's treadmill run started out like every other. I got on with intentions of maybe doing 7 or 8 k. So I crank up the tunage...listening to a little Dead or Alive to get me going. I popped a 1/2 a pack of Sport Beans before the run and had a delightful Inca porridge from Tosca's Eat Clean book for supper I...am....readyyyyyyy!!

Before I know it I am busting into a great pace...my legs feel great, my breathing is even and calm and I am sooo feeling this run! Maybe it was the quinoa from the porridge?? Maybe it was Jon and Richie guiding me along??

I am not sure why, but as I continue along, I am not feeling tired, in fact, it was quite the opposite. I was pumped...burning up the runway, ahem, treadmill like I OWNED it! Ok, I actually DO own it, but I digress.

So, just about the 7k mark, Eye Of the Tiger comes on my Ipod. I all of a sudden become Rocky Balboa....I am running up bleachers, and hills and chopping wood and yelling Adriiiiiiiiiannnnnnnn like nobody's business. I turn up the speed a notch. I am frikkin' Balboaaa!!! Yanno, minus the boy parts and crooked mouth and hairy legs. But in my mind, I am HARDCORE training here!! I....ammmm....Rockkkyyy!

Ok...I made it through to about 8 or 9k and I am going strong. I have run out to refill my water bottle cos I emptied it sweating up a storm, but in 30 seconds I am back on that treadmill. I crank the speed up...I crank up the Ipod...I am not tired. Then, my treadmill is transformed....Sexy Back comes on and I am on the runway in Paris, wearing my couture sheath and my delicious Louboutin's. I am in the zone.....lights are flashing, my hips are strutting and I feel so JLo right now. Oh Em Gee, I am LOVING this run!!

Another drink of water (I am halfway through my second bottle and sweating profusely) and I am into the 12th k. I am gettin' crunk! Missy comes on and **insert dj record scratching sounds** I am all OVER that run! Is it worth it...lemme work it....the treadmill, that is. Get your minds outta the gutter.

I am coming down the home stretch. Desperate Housewives is coming on soon and I have to finish this run....as much as I am not tired, not sore, just PUMPEEEDD!!
I am over 13.5k into the run, and I flip forward to some nice cool down music to get me calmed down. I am feeling so ADD right now. I need to simmer down. Then Bon Jovi is signing to me how he would love to "Pull down the covers and light a couple candles", and instantly I am coming down to my Happy Place. I feel like swooning and giggling, and I am howling to the top of my lungs all the Leann Rimes parts. I don't care that the bedroom window is open. I am singing a duet with Jon here, people!!

**sighh**

As I pull out the magic blue tab from the treadmill, I complete my 13.75k run...my longest run since I started running in April. I am proud...damn proud. I am not tired, or sore, just happy and sweaty and wanting to run further next time.

Was it the porridge?? Was it Rocky or JLo or Jon??? What was so magical about this run? It could just be it's the Eye of the Ipod. Rising up to the challenge of the treadmill. I went the distance.

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