Its been almost just a little over a month since I set out on my fitness goal of running 500 miles this year. I'm a little behind my goal of running 10 miles a week, but as I increase my distance, I think it will average out and I'll make up for lost time. I'm running 2.5-3 miles each run now.Here's a little glimpse into what my mornings are like lately:
At 5 am, the alarm goes off. I hit snooze and think about how much I hate getting out of bed, especially since I have usually been out of bed at least once already to nurse a certain baby who has not decided that sleeping through the night is worth his while yet.
Between 5 am and 5:20, I hit snooze several more times, still thinking about how this whole "rising early" thing is really just a dumb (bad!) idea - doesn't a mommy need her sleep?
Finally, I grit my teeth, roll my eyes, and heave myself out of bed. Actually, I just go ahead and decide to get up, but there's alot of internal moaning and groaning to myself. Boy, how I hate getting out of bed!
By 5:45 I'm generally downstairs, freezing (our basement is a bit on the chilly side), and starting the treadmill. The entire time, I'm thinking "Why am I doing this?! I hate this!"
As I warm-up and begin to run, I steel myself for the fact that the next half hour to 45 minutes is going to be mind-numbingly boring and physically challenging. Despite the fact that I listen to good sermons* on my ipod while I run, it is still... boring. I think again about how much I hate this. I count down mileage and the minutes as I go.
A little over one mile into it, and I'm starting to forget how much I hate it. I'm getting into the rhythm of my feet and legs moving, my lungs taking air in, letting it out, and I feel... good. I play a little with the speed of the treadmill, check my calories burned, think hard about the message I'm listening to, and praise God.
Suddenly, I'm done, and I don't want to be. I want to keep running, keep pounding away, sweating, breathing, moving. I don't hate it. In fact, I love running. I have always loved running. Why do I ever think I hate it?
I cool down, towel off, go upstairs and log my miles. Hop into the shower and feel refreshed, healthy, and energized. I make myself a snack, and settle down for some time in the Word before the house begins to stir. I'm so glad I got myself up and made my way through another early morning workout. I can't wait to run again tomorrow!
...that is, until the alarm goes off the next morning, and I start the same scenario all over again!
*here are some podcasts I listen to while running:
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4 comments:
I feel you, girl! LOL :-D It's the same for me those mornings too.
I can definitely relate! I've been doing the 30-day shred with Jillian Michaels. It was tough when I first started but now that I only have 5 days left I'm actually starting to enjoy it. Well...I enjoy how the exercise makes me feel afterwards and the positive improvements I see in my body! :-)
~ Carrie ~
That's the best description of running I've heard. Its so true. Way to stick with it.
Podcast idea: Matt Chandler from the Village Church in Dallas.
Seriously, that is EXACTLY how it works around here...except, I keep hitting the snooze button, and never do get out of bed. I tell myself, "If I get up, the monkey laying across my belly is going to wake up too, and then I won't be able to exercise anyway, so I might as well stay in bed and get a bit more sleep." If you have any advice, I'd appreciate it! I've come to accept that he doesn't sleep through the night, but if he would just go back to his own bed after he nurses (instead of nursing non-stop from 1 until we get up) that would be SO much better.
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