start running again

Stopped running about three months ago. Just couldn’t fit the runs in and it wasn’t fun and my knees hurt. Wanted to run a half marathon in ‘08, but didn’t make it.

Now I’m coming back with a far more modest goal. I want to run two miles a day four days a week, Monday-Thursday. (On Friday mornings, I take a boxing class.) Just 2 miles to start my day, clear my head, move my legs.

Started a few days ago and big realization. One mile is hard! I’ve lost my mojo!

But the good thing is that I think if I take it easy, don’t push too hard, I can get it back. So here’s to running again. Humbly but heartfelt.

I did pretty good on this goal. Ran 3 times last week. One two miler. Two 3.5 miles. Now, I’ve gotta crack the 5 mile goal. 14 weeks until my half marathon. I think I can. I think I can.

Does it matter to me that I run like a granny with a gimp? Not the least bit…

I like this picture because it reminds me that I first started running in Brooklyn, where I grew up. When I could finally run over the Brooklyn Bridge and back, I felt like a superstar.

It also reminds me of my brother who was killed in a car accident last Thanksgiving. He was always saying, “build a bridge… and get over it.”

Maybe that’s why I like running over bridges best of all.

Couldn’t find anyone to run with me at my granny pace, so I decided to take a cue from Nike and just do it anyway.

It’s three months away. I’m terrified. But in a good way.

Wish me luck! I just want to finish!

Kept putting off my 20 minute run yesterday. Morning was busy. Lunchtime flew by. Then in late afternoon, my husband offered to pick up the bambina so I could go downstairs and run.

Still, I was feeling very “let’s not and say we did” about running.

But I went and even though I stopped and started a lot. (I’m really a beginner, all over again.) It felt good.

So much so, that I decided to get up today and run at 5 since my husband leaves for work at 6. That way it would be done. No excuses. No worries.

A lot of the time when I go down to the gym in our apartment building, there’s some guy pounding away at the treadmill, watching the news. But this morning, I was first. I actually turned on the lights in the gym.

All day, I’ve been so happy. I’m turning on the lights. If that’s not a metaphor, then I don’t know what is!

I hoped to do five, but it’s Friday morning, 4th of July and I’m running out the door to visit friends in another state. Didn’t get this morning’s run in, but hopefully can get one in on Sunday night and will try to hit the 5X goal next week.

Happy 4th everybody—and to all my Canadian friends, a great weekend for you too!

Have done short runs here and there this past spring, but really got back to it this week.

Am trying to run 20 minutes a day, five days a week. It’s Wednesday and I’ve got 3 days down so I’m feeling good.

I run so, so, slow that speed walkers can pass me by but when I ran my first 10 miler the year I met my husband, this was how I trained. Running slow, wrapping my mind around the distance and the discomfort, until it was really comfortable to run slowly for an hour. Only then did I start picking up speed.

Because I’ve been doing the elliptical and yoga, I thought I’d had the workout thing pretty much covered. But I forgot about the high you can get, even at the end of a very short run. It’s such a mood lifter and I really need it these days.

Here’s to getting those short runs in on Thursday and Friday too…