It's Mental

Running

For me it's 99% Mental

Today I went to the gym and hit the treadmill.  Met Carolyn there-  poor thing is nursing a knee injury- I am praying that it improves and she can get back 100%.  She is an amazing encouragement.... inspiration.... She looks great and says that she feels amazing and like me has become addicted to running.

I have a love hate relationship with my treadmill.  It is a nice machine but has a mean streak.... See I think it is out of calibration.  I do not like to run outside when it is cold and so I stay inside on the treadmill.  I like to watch TV... Usually The Biggest Loser on Netflix.... but the speed on the darn thing is killing me... If it says 5.0 that is a 12 min mile... and I am struggling to run one on that darn thing... but when I run outside- boom- I run about an 11.5 min mile.... and today at the gym I was at stinking 6.0  for one song (without feeling like I was going to die).... It makes me crazy... Why does that number bother me so much... I know that it is not quite right... but it messes with my mind... and I focus on it.... and feel unsuccessful during my run.... still feel amazing afterwords though.

So I play this running game.... 

Run for fun.  That really never sounded possible.
I do not like to run.  Never liked to run. 

Running is hard.
Running is painful.
Running is work.
Running is time consuming.
Running is not fun.  

That's what I used to say-

Jay and I started running on the bike path a couple summers ago.... Running was so hard in the beginning... my heart felt like it would beat out of my chest, I couldn't breath, I felt like I was going to cough up a lung after I was done..... it took all the way home to recover..... sad state of health... LOL

Then I noticed that it wasn't taking as long to recover and I was able to increase my duration.... little by little I was making progress.  I absolutely LOVED the way I felt about 40 min after a run... whether is was 1, 2, 3, miles.... 

I lost weight... because here comes more the mental junk.... If I am going to take the time and effort to run for 30 min then there is no way I am going to eat something that will undo that effort.   

I find if I get dressed, find my shoes and headphones and stuff...  that is more than 1/2 the battle.  Then doing it is the easy part... Remember the Nike slogan from the 80's,
"JUST DO IT"

I feel like I accomplished something when my run is over... and now I am ready move forward and to do something else-  

My legs feel super skinny after running... I know that's in my head... but they do feel strong and skinny. 

I also have less back pain and stiffness when I run... so that's worth the effort in itself.  

When I run outside I am so thankful to God for the weather, the ability to run, the beauty around me...When I started I was just thankful to finish and for my husband who encouraged me and gave me tips.  He never teased me about my red faced recovery. 

Today talking to Carolyn I remember encouraging her to start running, now she's encouraging me to get back to it.  So we are both addicted.  It is a good addiction.... Looking around the gym today we looked like the youngsters of the group.... and that made me laugh... I hope my effort pleases, He, who gave me the ability to run- not necessarily to win any races but to share joy with others and be an encouragement to whoever needs it- and an example of  His love.

Maybe I am not supposed to be inside on that treadmill....