About a month ago, I laced up my running shoes for the first time in almost a year. Between the overwhelming nature of my day job and the exhaustion that resulted, my daily workout became a thing of the past. Thanks to my slug status, I gained twenty pounds. Yikes.
The weight isn’t what bothered me (well, maybe a little), but rather the overall sense of feeling worn down and lazy. There’s something wrong when a little afternoon nap turns into three hours on the couch. I was fast becoming a couch potato with no motivation to get up and move.
This state of lethargy just wasn’t me. I’m not a sitter, I’m a runner! And not just a jogger on the sidewalk. I’m a trail runner that loves twists, turns, dirt, and rocks. I’m the person that runs uphill to get to a trail that skirts a small mountain. The climb stretches every muscle and kickstarts my pulse, but the view makes the “burn” worth it. I get to watch the sun set without a roof or lamppost in sight!
Tired of being “not me,” I got up and dug through the closet until I found my running shoes. I slipped them on and it felt like I had reunited with an old friend. To my great surprise, I ran a full mile that day and walked another two. Apparently, my muscles were happy to be back on the trail!
My running shoes.
In the first three weeks, I lost seven pounds and experienced a huge resurgence of energy. It’s amazing how just a little bit of exercise can make such big difference. What’s more, I really enjoy that hour of “quiet time.” It’s just me, the ground, and nothing else. No music, TV, internet, or any other plugged in distraction. While my body feels better, so does my mind.
This week, I hit a milestone of running 1.5 miles and walking 1.5 miles for a total of 3 miles. I’m well on my way to reaching my old standard of running 2.5 miles and walking for 1 mile. With the help of my running shoes, I’ll be there in no time!
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What’s your favorite thing this week?
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c.b.w. 2014
C.B. Wentworth 