So I have been doing this running thing for about a year now...of course, adjusting for when it is waaay too hot or waaaaay too cold. I am not that crazy hardcore. And I won't do treadmill running. I loathe it. I will be running for, well, forEVER and then I look at the time and it is about three minutes. So no thanks on that bad boy. I also figured out the reason I hate treadmills is that because of my bad balance/vertigo, I have a hard time staying within the track. So I have to hold the bar for balance. So I look like a doofus.
Plus, I just like to be outside when I run. I run in my neighborhood, up and down the streets. I know where the challenging hills are and which roads are going to be my easy ones. I get that time for me. Just me and my music... although my playlist is completely bipolar and needs work. I can go from Queen to a Johnny Cash gospel song in a flash. Nothing takes the wind out of my sails like running along and "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord" comes on. Blam.
But running is nice, y'all. It really is. I mean, don't get me wrong, a part of me is that shirt above and a big part of me is this one:
But all in all, I find that running really is great. It is super great once I am done, that is for sure. I am not running marathons, or hell half marathons, even. But I have a couple of 5Ks under my belt and I never thought I would get there. Who knew the fireplug girl with big boobs and stumpy legs would ever RUN? I never wanted to sweat, never wanted to get out of breath. Running? Not unless I was being chased...or maybe chasing Alexander Skarsgard. But I did it, little by little. And I am still doing it, little by little. I tried the Couch to 5K thing, but all of that timing just was too distracting for me. My method was this: get good shoes, get some music, run until I was about to throw up my pancreas, walk it out, run again, repeat. I wanted to be able to run 5K, but never thought I would actually run a 5K.
This is me, after my first 5K. Victory!
And starting this little journey has given me confidence to do lots of other things I never, ever (like
ever) thought I would do. I have done a mud run and am getting ready to do a second one, signed up for Color Me Rad, and recently did a zipline and obstacle course. Yes, that same fireplug, big boobed, stumpy legged girl.
I have recently heard of and read some opinions of what I call Running Snobs. You know those who turn up their noses at the "fun" 5Ks like the mud and color runs. Look, I get it. You run 26.2 miles like it is a stroll at the park. I think that is AMAAAAAZING. Seriously, running 3.1 is very eye-opening as to how long a mile actually is. The thought of 26.2 makes my ass leak. But, hey, any of these fun runs that motivate someone to get off of said ass are phenomenal in my book. So, please, Running Snobs, try and give a little credit here. Maybe it starts with a fun 5K. Maybe then we move to running one more street in our neighborhoods, maybe up to ten miles....a half....a marathon some day. Who knows? But you have to start somewhere.
Maybe it is better to be encouraging to those who are getting their feet wet with the fun 5Ks. I have a couple of friends who are serious runners who never, ever poo-poo the runs I do. And you know what? That motivates me to move my ass and do a little better each time.
Right now, 5Ks. In two weeks, the next Dirty Girl Mud Run. A month out from there, Color Me Rad. Someday, maybe a marathon, but if not, that is okay. I am still a runner. And it still sometimes sucks.
