My entire life I have liked running about as much as my mother likes the St. Louis Cardinals.....there is true hatred there :). I've always tried to avoid long distance running (or even jogging) as much I could throughout my whole life. When I played basketball in highschool and college, my biggest fear was pre-season long distance running. I would get nauseated just at the thought of it. In my prime give me sprints upon sprints and I was fine, but throw that mileage at me and I cringed!
Then as I became older and went through two knee surgeries, I had myself a good excuse not to become a runner. That pounding on my already degenerative knee..."I can't do that". In the past two years, I have lost 30 pounds, but mostly by doing my favorite type of fitness training...lifting weights. I 'm an avid believer in weight training to build leaner, larger muscles and burn fat. It is a great way to boost one's metabolism. I have even done some aerobic excercise consisting of the elliptical and bike. I have majorly avoided the running...even on the treadmill.
Recently I have had an epiphany. In the past two weeks, I have had friends talk to me about running, I have read about running in every book and magazine I have picked up, I have had co-workers suggest running in fundraisers. The signs are everywhere! I chose to ignore them for a bit, and give my normal "I'm not a runner" line. But it is not in my nature to ignore something that keeps popping up and grabbing my attention. Many times I see this (especially if it is something of good virtue and good for me) as a sign.....as God directing me in a certain way. Another life lesson. Another goal.
The dreaded "running" word just kept popping up. Then last Saturday at a cookout, a friend of mine asked myself and several of my friends, if they wanted to run in the Abes Amble. This is a 10k (or 6.2 mile) run in August. My initial reaction was, "I don't know about that. I can't run!". Then the talk of training and preparing pursued throughout the night. I went to bed that night with this really weighing on my mind.
I woke up the next day and literally started talking to myself. For a good 10 minutes I became my own "life coach". I told myself how I need to start practicing what I preach. I am studying to be a fitness trainer. If I'm going to train others in all aspects of fitness (anaerobic and aerobic), I must be able to do it myself. I'm constantly telling others to face their fears and to step up to the plate and do things they don't like to do....because in the end a wonderful feeling of love for yourself awaits. At that moment, I realized I needed to stop the excuses. I needed to face up to it. I needed to burrow through the pain and fear of training and set this goal. God has even put friends and loved ones around me for support and motivation. How can I say no? The signs are everywhere....I can't ignore them any longer.
So I have started training. I have already made improvement in my distance. I need to stay focused and compare myself to no one else and take it one day at a time. I'm extremely sore right now and yes my joints (including my knee) do hurt. But it is not a debilitating pain. I'm not going to lie and say I feel great as I'm running or even when I've completed my jogging jaunt, but I will say the thought of reaching this goal and facing this fear is exhilarating!
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