Why I Run

I've been running for about 6 months now. I run 3 days a week unless I am out of town. During the summer, I've been going to the gym and I alternate between running and elliptical.

I started my "big girl" job at the beginning of December. I spend 8-5 mostly sitting at a desk, only getting up to go to lunch and to get water from the basement. Nothing too crazy, no serious movement. Just after Christmas I realized that I started feeling like the humans from Wall-E.

I was at a point where I was not financially stable (thanks car), and I couldn't and didn't want to spend the money on going to the gym or taking classes, so I decided that all I needed to start running was running shoes. Not too bad. 

In January, I started the Couch to 5K 7-week plan. I had a goal that I wanted to run the Color Me Rad 5K in May, and I wanted to ACTUALLY run it. So I decided to double the plan (14 weeks, 3 1/2 months, just about perfect timing). I'm so glad I did because when I started running, I didn't realize that I was getting my body fit for running for the first time ever. My body wasn't used to running: the hard impact, the heavy breathing, being out of breath, hurting. It took me a solid 2 months before I could even run 2 full miles non-stop. It wasn't easy, and often it was painful, but it paid off. So here's why I run, the benefits of running, and some tips to make it seem more possible. 

Why I Wanted to Run:

- I felt soooooooo out of shape. I have never been one to work out for long periods of time. The only thing I kept up longer than a couple of months was yoga. So in the past 26 years, I've always been unathletic with spurts of athleticism. I decided I wanted to change that. 

- I need to take care of my body. While I may only be in my twenties, I want to start taking care of my body. It's the time where I can change my eating habits and my exercising habits and my thinking habits most easily. My body is not in great shape, I don't have a pain-free life. I have chronic pain, frequent headaches, and other ailments that are alleviated when I exercise. 

- Be the change you want to see. I have seen and heard more than I can count of people who complain constantly about being out of shape or eating too much or feeling tired all of the time, etc. I don't want to be that person. Yes, I have cellulite on my thighs and I have a pooch; yes, I eat a ton of carbs; yes, I am tired... but I CAN change that, and I wanted to be another example of, "If I can do it, so can you."

- Break out of the mundane. While I love my job, good grief it can be so boooooooring to sit at a desk and stare at a screen all day. I'm a very energetic person and need to be able to do something to help expel my energy.

- No regrets. While some people have no regret eating 3,000 calories a day and being over weight, not fitting into their clothes, sitting around all day doing nothing, or what-have-you, I have a strong sense of guilt if I over-indulge and don't do something to recompense. If I want that ice cream cone, or all 12 of those cookies, I need to do something to burn it off. In reverse, when I run, I feel good and know that I can enjoy the foods I love without feeling the guilt! As I say often, I run so I can eat.
- What's a scale? Since I've been running, I have not stepped foot on the scale. I weighed myself in January at some point and clocked in at 150. Not an upsetting weight, only 5 pounds higher than what I had been that time last year. But here's the thing. The scale is just a number. No matter what it says on there, I need to be listening to my body, not the number on the scale. I could weight 155 and be a pant size smaller due to lost fat and gained muscle. I could weigh 140 and have very little muscle and more fat. Numbers are irrelevant. If I feel good and I look good and I approve of how I feel and look, that's all that matters. 

The Benefits (for me):

- No more chronic knee pain. Crazy to think, but running has basically made my chronic knee pain disappear. I only hurt when the weather is changing (old wives tale but totally real, btw). I can walk a lot longer, stand longer, and overall my knees have felt very little pain in the six months I've been running.

- I run so I can eat. I stated this earlier, but it's also a great benefit. While I eat a lot of homemade meals, pasta, cereal, bread, and cheese, I keep my calorie intake low. So even though I eat carbs often, I don't eat a lot. Running has allowed me to eat more enjoyable foods without having to cut my calorie intake even more. Nice!

- I crave healthier things. I think this is a HUGE benefit. Since I've been running, my desire to eat sugar constantly has definitely decreased. I feel like since I take care of my body physically, I'll want to start feeding it better food. I have been craving more salads, veggies, and healthier things like pickles and mushrooms and bell peppers. I like to eat less processed foods as well. Sweet! Oh, and I for sure drink more water and less diet soda. Even better!

- Gets me out of my head. I'm naturally a neurotic person. I think think think think think. That's all I do. I over think and obsess over all kinds of things. Running has been amazing in the fact that it gives me an hour of time where I'm focusing on how my body is running, my posture, and my breathing instead of the thoughts running through my head. I usually have a while after I run when I feel very zen as well. Also a plus!

- The feeling of achievement never grows old. But seriously. Every. Single. Time. that I run a 5K (3.12 miles) the feeling of achievement is so overwhelming. I sometimes have to refrain myself from jumping up and down or hurrahing out loud. The feeling of amazement washes over me because it's such a huge accomplishment, even if I do it 3 times a week. The fact that I CAN run is a miracle in and of itself. 

What I Have to Remind Myself:

- Excuse me, you've only been running 6 months. Yeah, you heard me. You're a baby runner. Your body is still adjusting to running. Your muscles are still strengthening. Your lungs are still adjusting. Once day you'll be able to run a 5K non-stop, but until then you're doing great!

- Running is hard. It is! Your body is doing all of these things it doesn't normally do. It's a hard impact sport. Sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate and you can't run as well because the humidity is 1000% and you feel like you're swimming through the air. Sometimes it's so hot that all you can think about is the fact that you are sure you are evaporating. Sometimes it's so cold you know your fingers are going to fall off from frostbite. But you know what? You did it anyway!

- It's okay to be inconsistent. Some days I can run 3.12 miles non-stop and slightly winded, some days I can run 2 miles and I'm dying, there was a 2 week period where I re-sprained my foot and just did yoga instead. Occasionally I skip running when I'm out of town. I just need to make sure I get back on track as soon as possible. I'm not perfect, and I don't always make it, but I try and that's all that matters. 

- Ew. You are going to be so gross and sweaty even though you thought it wasn't possible. You'll even sweat when it's snowing outside. You'll think to yourself why did I even bother with wearing nice workout clothes? It's cool, I do the same thing. 

- You're gonna hurt. For the first 3 months I CONSTANTLY had shin splints. All day every day. It felt like a horse kicked me in the shins nonstop for months. I iced them, used a heat pack, ibuprofen, etc. Running helped, and eventually they went away. I can't even remember the last time I had them! Also charlie horses and stitches in the side are two other things that can and will happen. 

Tips I've Learned

- Ponytails. I wear my hair low on my neck. If I wear a high ponytail it just bounces around and eventually becomes too loose to function and I have to stop and redo it. Wearing it low helps me not worry about it. 

- Headbands. Cotton headbands are nice. When I'm running outside, I wear them to keep the wind from blowing hair in my face. 

- Makeup. I usually take my makeup off before I run for one main reason. If I sweat profusely while wearing makeup, I have a tendency to have more acne breakouts than if I have a clean face. Also, if I'm running outside, it allows my skin to get some sun (a healthy dose!).

- Clothes. I've gotten by with cheer shorts, running shorts, yoga pants, and sweat pants. They all work. Don't think you need fancy pants just to run. Start with whatever you've got! I also wear a plain t-shirt or tank and a cheap sports bra. Easy peasy. 

- Breathing. Look up tricks on breathing exercises to help strengthen your lungs for breathing. I don't do much, I just inhale longer and exhale slower. It seems to help. It's definitely something I need to look into more!

- Stretching. I know, if you're like me, that you think stretching sounds so dumb and like a waste of time. It definitely helps to loosen and relax your hamstrings before running, and to do a cool down stretch after. I've had some painful injuries due to not stretching. Ouch.  

- Eating & Drinking. I refrain from eating a couple of hours before I run. This is because I have acid reflux, and if I eat that close to working out, I will almost always throw up. Drinking has the same affect as well. Sometimes my blood sugar drops while running, which sucks, but you can always try eating a high protein snack maybe 30 minutes before you go out. 

I hope you've found all of this helpful. It was nice when people just like me could share on running and I was able to relate to their experiences with ones of my own. Good luck, and don't forget: You CAN do it!

Miracles of the Program

There are days when I feel like things aren't going the way I want them to, and that's when I get to thinking about the incredible opportunities God has given me. This photo is from my May 2013 college graduation.

While this may have happened just over three years ago, it's a reminder of the miracle that Al-Anon has bestowed upon me.

There are some things in this post that are personal, that I don't talk about often, and normally don't write down for it to be permanently placed on the internets forever and ever, but this post is real and comes from the heart and I won't be holding back my thoughts and feelings.

Three years ago, I graduated from OU with a bachelor's degree. I invited a host of family members knowing that because they all live so far away that many of them might not be able to show up. I also invited ALL of my family, meaning I invited my dad's side and mom's side.

Here are the reasons why this photo is a miracle.

1. My mom (in the center with blonde curly hair) and my dad (baseball cap in the back on the left) divorced when I was really, really young. The fact that my parents could come together for my sake made me so incredibly happy. I was able to share my achievement with both of my parents, which meant more than I could say.

2. My paternal grandparents (the stellar looking gentleman holding the baby in the front left and the beautiful woman in the pink shirt behind him) got to see me graduate, after many struggles in college and in life. My Peepaw paid for my college and for that I will be forever grateful. He gave me the opportunity to succeed, something I didn't think I was going to get.

3. This photo wouldn't have happened before. This I know, because when I graduated high school my family "wasn't allowed" to spend time together. My mom and my now-ex-step-dad were married when I graduated high school. I invited all of my family to come see it because, duh, it's a big deal. Well, because of my stepdad's super controlling tendencies, and him being an overall jerk, he wouldn't allow my dad's side of the family to see me on my graduation weekend. I was BEYOND upset, I was livid. Enraged. Broken hearted. Everyone was hurt, not just me, and it was a totally unacceptable action he took.

4. Both sets of my grandparents got to see me graduate college! Then they got to mingle and talk and catch up afterwards! You see, they never had any hard feelings towards each other (to my knowledge). The high school fiasco was out of everyone's control and it was wonderful to get to experience all of my family coming together with no resentment and to just focus on the celebration.

5. See those two little girls in the front? Purple shirt and pink shirt? Those are two of my sisters. One of my brothers is to my left in the beanie.

6. My aunts, my uncle-in-law, my cousin and her daughter(s) (she was preggo with her 2nd!), my mom's husband, and Jose's mom, dad, and cousin all got to be there, along with wonderful friends, my boss at the time and his awesome family, and some of my best friends. It's just incredible! So many people I care about and love!

6. Because of Al-Anon, I didn't have to worry about the mildly-crazy things that happened this weekend. I got to focus on spending time with people who wanted to come see me and celebrate my achievement. It didn't matter who was acting out, I didn't have to get resentful or upset, I didn't have to think about why this couldn't have happened in high school. I could be grateful for this awesome, wonderful, amazing opportunity to have most of my family together and be happy, joyous, and free.

What's one photo that reminds you of a miracle that has been bestowed upon you? Let me know!