Amateur Runner

My entire life I have always been inspired by runners.  I was in awe of their dedication.  I was in awe of the fact that they could run more than a mile effortlessly.  I always aspired to be like them - running miles on end without stopping and feeling energized for the duration of the run.  I craved their love for running.

Following my dreams, I have tried running before.  Let's just say, I was terrible!  It took me around 30 minutes to "slowly jog" one mile.  And I hated it!  It was so hard.  I couldn't breathe.  I felt like I might collapse at any moment.  I felt my dreams of becoming a runner crashing down around me.  I told myself that my body was not built to run like that.  I did not have a runner's body. 

Hogwash.

In December 2012, a good friend and I decided we needed to start being fit.  We were both unhappy with our bodies, and wanted to change that.  Low and behold, we both had dreams of running a 5K one day.  One day.  That day didn't feel close at all.  

So our journey began.

That first day in December, we were both so out of shape.  I, myself, could barely "slowly jog" a quarter of the football field track.  I'm not talking a quarter of a mile.  I'm talking a quarter of ONE lap around the track.  There are four laps in one mile.  So on that first day, I struggle desperately to slowly jog 1/16th of a mile.  (I think that's right? My math is horrible.)  

Yesterday, not even two months from our starting date, I was able to moderately jog for 2.22 miles without stopping.  Talk about progress!!  I have been amazed at the progress we have made in leaps and bounds.  Not only has our distance improved, but our time has improved as well! 

Tomorrow we start week 7 of the Couch-to-5K training schedule we have been doing.  There are only 8 weeks total - I'm so excited!  I can't believe we have made it this far without giving up, without stopping.  We are almost to the finish line!  Our dream of running a 5K is literally JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

I can't say that I'm by any means an advanced runner, but I can say that I'm a runner!  I am surprised by how much I love doing it!  That has always been my dream, to be a runner than LOVES running!  I wanted that - and now I have it! 

So never give up on your aspirations in life.  If you want it bad enough, and try hard enough, you might just be able to attain it. :) 

Live joyfully, live peacefully, and live lovingly.