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.

I jogged this morning for the first time in several days. A combination of very cold weather and a mysterious twisted ankle offered me ample excuses. The truth is I’ve lost my motivation. I guess this is typical of new runners – go strong for a few weeks and then just move on with your life. I think, “At least I’m not gaining weight.”

I don’t want to give up.

I don’t want to be a failure at running.

Over the last several years I’ve started running about twice a year. Usually I hang in for about a month, drop ten pounds and then forget why I’m running.

Thinking over these running failures, I see a few common elements. Some people can run every other day – not me. I’m like a couch-a-holic, one slip and I’m full blown addicted to inactivity. So, every day I have to run (or walk), even if it’s only a mile, even if it’s nasty weather.

Hitting the streets today is the only goal that works. This morning I met my goal.