Why Run?

I posted on Facebook the other day about having gone for a run. And someone asked, why run? Why not walk?

I am NOT an athletic person in any way, shape, or form. At all. And if someone told me a few years ago, I would be a runner, I would have laughed in their face. Really. But 2 years ago, I decided I needed to do something for my health. Or more precisely, to keep my health. We ALL know that a good diet and exercise is the way to go. So with no other goal in mind than to "kinda get in shape", I started the C25K program. C25K stands for "Couch to 5 Km". Sounded just about perfect for me. Especially the couch part cause that described my starting point perfectly. So on FB, I updated my status as "C25K???" And my very bestest friend from high school suggested that we do it and we do it together. Even though we live on different continents.

And you know what? We did it! And I have to give a lot of credit to my friend who kept me going. It was great motivation checking in with her after each run and keeping each other updated and inspired. Not that we/I just breezed through it. It was HARD at times. But it was sooo motivating, as I moved through the program, to see and feel how I was getting a little better each week. And as I realized, that maybe, just maybe, I can do this, I started feeling such a sense of accomplishment.

So there's my answer. Why do I run? Because it gives me a huge sense of accomplishment. It's something I never, ever thought I could do. Yet I can. It still surprises me.

This is the website I used. It's brilliant and I highly recommend it. It's intervals of walking and jogging. The first week the jogging intervals are 60 seconds. So it started out at my level. ;) You increase the jogging and decrease the walking each week and by week 9, you're at 30 minutes of jogging. You have to work though, it doesn't just come on it's own. The first weeks I was purple and dying, staring at my stopwatch and praying to God for the 90 seconds of jogging to be over. But you get better.

Here are some other benefits of jogging (besides the sense of accomplishment thing). It's free!!! Definitely a bonus. I can't afford/don't want to/ refuse to pay gym membership fees. And the nearest gym is a 20 min drive. So I'm looking at 40 min just in driving. Or I could just go out my door and be done in 40 minutes. Another benefit is fresh air!! Totally love running outside. I bought an ellipse machine when the weather got really cold and icy and snowy, thinking that would keep me going. I hate it. Staring at the 4 walls of my bedroom during my work out was soooo boooring. I was ready to stab myself in the neck with a sharp object just to put myself out of my misery. Outside is where it's at. And last, but definitely not the least, I'm kind of in shape. I'm no athlete. And I'm pretty sure I look like the girl in the yellow jacket when I'm running. But I can feel the benefits and that's pretty darn cool.

Running isn't the only thing that gives me a sense of accomplishment and makes me feel good about myself. Eating leftovers makes me sooo happy. I joke not. I've fed my family, it didn't cost me anything (extra), and I don't feel guilty for throwing perfectly good food away while people in the world starve to death. I heart leftovers!! Hmmm.....I feel another blog post coming on. What makes you feel good?