Today I hit my first 10 day running streak this year. As you know, I’ve had a hard time finding motivation to run since last winter.
Then two weeks ago I bought a new pair of shoes. It was a reality check to talk to some of the guys at the shoe store about the hard times my running career has been on.
So, I decided to start a streak. My rules are simple and things have been going well:
- Run at least one mile a day
- I’m aiming for 2 miles each day for July
- Then add the 3rd mile in August
- And the 4th in September
I’ve went for some extra walks and big rides, but the focus is to keep running. The weight loss is coming slow - mostly beacuse of failure to diet. Stay tuned.
It gives me hope that I change. I’ve been making slow progress.
- My immediate goal is to run 2 miles every day and build some fitness back.
- It’s very discouraging how much my latest 5 months of laziness have set me back.
Check out this photo from Joe Thorn
I was beginning to think I had given this blog the wrong name. It’s been several months now since I’ve done any consistent running. But I had the feeling that if I just kept the dream alive, that I would somehow come around.
So, tonight I walked two miles around my block.
It doesn’t seem like much, but it was something. And something is a giant improvement over nothing.
It was a nice night for walking, but my feet really started hurting. I guess that is what I get for falling so far off my course. That is all I’ll say tonight.
Sometimes I wonder why I am still optimistic about my running. When it comes to jogging, I have been struggling all winter. But tonight things are starting to move in the right direction.
The weather is warming up, the daylight is lasting longer, and I’m getting tired of being out of shape.
So, I need more than a plan. I need to start doing something. Tonight, I ran a mile and hope to do it again tomorrow. Then, do it again the next day, etc.
It’s been a slow New Year for my running. It seems like every time I get a new start - everything goes wrong. The weather, my health, and life in general seem to conspire against me. Of course, making excuses is always my worst enemy. The weather started to trend warmer this week and I’m hoping to finish the month strong.
It’s too late to do the mini-marathon I had been dreaming of last fall, but for me winning will be moving forward.
No - The Secret To Running Is Not The Shoes
I know that title is a little pompous, especially considering I’m still fighting to get out the door most days. But it occurred to me tonight that I’ve stumbled past the secret of running too many times to count.
The Secret To Running - Never Give Up
I didn’t say the secret to running well, that is still a mystery to me. What I mean is more basic. As long as I keep going out for my awkward jogs, I’ll never fail. As long as I try to become a runner, it will happen.
The whole problem for me is motivation.
- Do I really want to become a runner?
- Do I really want to lose weight?
- Do I really want to wake up at 5 AM?
- Do I really want to believe I can do it?
One of the best and worst things about running is that it only happens today. I can’t get in my run for yesterday and I can’t knock off tomorrow’s jog either. Running is now – if nothing at all.
This is a great motivator for someone like me. I’ve been a hit and miss runner for the last fifteen years. The last few years I’ve gotten worse. The last few weeks I’ve completely fallen off. I’ve given up, slept in late, and chosen to lose.
None of that matters when I step out the door. My failures can’t keep up as long as I keep taking the next step. I can still outrun yesterday. Running forces me to exist, to choose who I will be.
So, tonight I ran two awkward starting-over-kind of miles. My lungs were raspy and my rhythm was hard to find. It was anything but a beautiful run, but I was free from my lousy not-running-days from January.
With running, everyday is about starting over. Tomorrow is another day, to win or to fail. I can’t help that tonight, but I like fresh starts.
January was a killer - cold weather, poor health, zero degree motivation, and climbing weight. Thinks are looking down, but all is not lost. Spring is not far away and I’m doing a better job regulating what I eat.
It’s still amazing that I can drop a few pounds just by eating different, when it takes many miles to burn the same amount of fat.
I have been missing my runs. I’ve read over some of my jogging posts here and it gives me determination to get going again. I just need to get over my flu first!
A few weeks off haven’t been all that bad, especially when the weather has been so severe. Stay tuned…
This week has been bad. I’ve jogged a mile here and there, but nothing like last month. Getting to bed early enough for a 5 AM run has been nearly impossible. Eating right has been a struggle.
I guess the real hang up is motivation. I’m not sure if I really care about losing weight or becoming healthy. The last few weeks it’s been in the “good idea” category, but something I don’t have to do.
This is probably where most people live. Change is too hard, so they give up. That is what I’m feeling this morning.
I’ve made a good start on giving up. I’ve lost the desire to make a better life through running and self-control. Having this website forces me to think about it, otherwise I might have been just forgotten.
Maybe that is enough to keep me going.
I wasn’t planning to run this morning since I have to be at work at 7:30.
I was going to sleep a little late and then hit the roads this afternoon. But my youngest son woke up around 5 AM. After I got him back to sleep, I was fully awake.
It was a beautiful morning. The air was a moist 50° F. As I ran down the country lane, I could smell the winter earth sleeping. The plowed fields were breathing in the dark. The winter sky made this run feel like a beautiful dream that ended too soon.
3 miles later I’m back home before my alarm was originally set to wake me up. I usually feel great when I get my early morning run and today is no exception. I’m glad for this accidental run.