I Just Run

Me with my son, James, after our first race together.

As long as I can remember, I have run.

Of course, I have come a long way from the days of using a clock and street blocks to track my time, and distance but overall, I am still just that girl who wants to run, but with fancier stuff now.

You can blame it on the Physical Fitness Awards that we were introduced to in school.
My sister and I loved to hustle and our eyes were on the prize: The Presidential Award. I still remember the gold seal that decorated the certificate and made it stand out against the rest.
Every year, I looked forward to earning it.

If you go back to that track or field we had to use in those days to run, you would have seen two chicken-legged twin Mexican girls running as fast as we could, while our friends walked chilled back along the track.  I am sure they thought we were crazy. Some days I still wonder if I am, especially when I roll out of bed on a Saturday morning at 4:00 a.m. to go on my long runs.

And as I do now, I often wish I could be walking with them. Just strolling. Hey, what's up. Saying and thinking, "Dang, I am so happy to not be those girls! Why would anyone want to do that!?!"

Why indeed?

Well, that is what this blog will be. Me just writing to you about why I run and what is going on while I am doing it.

Running isn't always inspirational. It isn't always successful. It definitely isn't always easy, but it is always worth it! You can learn a lot about yourself when running and you definitely are shaping more than just your body; if you are doing it consistently, physical fitness will shape your mind too.

Runners will get my blog.  Heck, most runners will identify with it! If you aren't a runner but find it fascinating at some level (as minuscule as it may be), then you will definitely read to see if you are right that running is or isn't for you.

Either way, I promise to keep it real.

Keeping it real will let you know that I am not an elite runner (trust me, very far from it). I could very well be just the runner you see huffing and puffing down the subdivision loop, hoping and praying that the traffic at the intersection will hold me back enough so that I can catch my breath and rest before attacking the next leg of my run or that a row of trees will be my cover so I can walk and no one will see me!
Or
Real enough to tell you that after a Girl's Night Out, I am just not feeling the short run much less a long run. However, if I am stubborn enough to ignore the GNO aftershocks, then yes, that run will be a different kind of run and potentially blog worthy.

And yes. Like  most runners, I talk about running, a lot and think about it more.

So hopefully writing about it will help the poor souls out there have to listen less to me talk about running.

Doubtful.

Today I ran 10 miles and I feel good!