Running Therapy

I am a runner, granted I may have taken a few breaks and a long hiatus here and there, I still consider myself a runner.  I am coming off one of those aforementioned hiatuses seeing as how I have a race coming up in 8 weeks now.

8 weeks!! EEEP I am so excited about this one! Its the Nike Women's Half Marathon in Washington DC, I was selected as part of a lottery, of which I was declined last year for the same race in San Francisco. I heard they were going to be starting a race in DC and just new this was my time to be chosen.  I have dreamed of doing a Nike Women's Race for YEARS! Well, my mom, grandma, myself and a friend from work signed up for the lottery as a group and alas...we were chosen!

Im not gonna lie, the Tiffany's Necklace thats waiting at the finish line is all the motivation I need!! Its also pretty cool that I'll get a personal running tour of all the cool things in DC during the race.

All this to say that I decided I really needed to start running if I am going to survive this race.

I printed my training schedule, got out my new favorite running shoes and dusted off the BOB.  Being that we have such an odd schedule at our house I basically do all my training with L in the stroller, it makes for some good resistance training!

He thinks his momma is CRAZY for dragging him out of bed to go run in the cold

I have found that since I have been running more this past week, its almost a form of free therapy.

Running clears my head, I pray, think through the issues weighing on my heart, and recap or plan the day.  I never run with music if L is with me so I can hear him and also whats going on around me so this allows the perfect opportunity to connect with myself.  I do bust out the jams though if I am by myself which I usually try to plan my long runs for when I am on my own.

I have also found I am a happy person, the little things in life which previously would nag my brain to the core have just been able to be brushed of.  I am also more productive on the days I run.  Its an energy boost for sure! If I run in the evening it takes me a LONG time to wind down and I often end up going to bed super late.  This is why I prefer to run early in the day.

The runners high thats always spoken of...its real, I was a doubter prior to being a runner but it really is real.  The first few miles of my runs are usually tough, my legs are tight and my breathing isn't in sync.  Once I get past usually the 2 sometimes 3 mile mark though its like Im on autopilot and I just run and nothing hurts and my breathing is rhythmic and in sync and its so therapeutic.

This is why I love to run.
Yeah most days the act of getting out the door is tough but 9 times out of 10 once I'm out I don't regret it.