COURAGE

One week ago today, I started my running journey. To celebrate, I wore this new top today with word COURAGE repeated three times in three different colors to “Fuel the Wag” for me today.   In seven short days I have experienced the different colors of running. There is the thrill of doing something that I have never done before. With that comes the unbridled energy that wants to do it all right now, skipping the necessary steps such as stretching and hydrating properly and pushing myself until it feels like my legs want to throw up for hours afterwards. I have experienced the fresh wind and sunshine, the vibrant colors all around me, and contemplating creation as I see all the different birds flying all around. Truth be told, however, when I see the hawks circling, I do check my pulse.

I had a bad day yesterday.  My knee was catching and causing me pain at the slightest twist. I decided to let my legs loosen up throughout the day thinking an evening run might be better.  Evening came and my son came out and showed me how to do his baseball stretches, which felt really good!  Then he went the first mile with me. We ran two very short portions of the walk. My legs were screaming at me. Then the kittens started following us like puppies. I was worried with them on the road and even more worried that they were going to trip me as they wandered between my legs without notice.

I told my son to go ahead and go inside and I was going to do a couple more laps. I plugged my earbuds in and turned on Pandora, as I have been listening for encouraging words and phrases.  Nothing. I walked into the house after an extra two laps and my husband asked how it went. “Pathetic,” I responded.   And then I realized one of my mistakes tonight was that I didn’t feel like a runner. My friend has encouraged me to make it fun: chew gum, wear fun things, listen to fun music. I had no fun clothes on and I forgot my gum.

I reasoned with my husband how different this journey is for me. My intention for any kind of exercise in the past has been to lose weight. I watch my calories and weight numbers obsessively and end up getting discouraged and quitting. This time I decided that I was doing this for the health of it and to make my heart stronger. I heard cholesterol levels can go down, etc., etc. I have not weighed. I have not measured. The only numbers I have been keeping track of are my miles. Although that has been very satisfying, I started to wonder WHY I was doing this. I felt like my running was the definition of faith that we had studied about in Bible Study yesterday. My running was the substance of things hoped for (my outward appearance), the evidence of things not seen (my inside health). I may not be able to SEE the benefits of this, but I am hoping that I will feel and experience the benefits on a different level. 

My husband and son have been wonderful through this. I didn’t know if they would mock me for even thinking about running or when they actually saw me run. But I was determined. Tonight, they gave me so much encouragement.  My husband talked me through maybe needing to slow down just a bit and build up to where I want to be. He reminded me of my tendency to want things right away and that if I am not careful, I will not be able to do it at all. My son has offered to stretch with me and run with me even though I will not be a challenge for him at all. But he is willing to be that support for me. 

I reflected on the last couple of days and seeing how I have been able to encourage others through the steps I am taking. I want others to feel good about themselves and use walking and running as a connection in their own relationships with others. Any step I take I count as a blessing. I thoroughly enjoyed a three mile WALK today and that is okay. Slow and steady wins the race. My encouraging Pandora treasure today was “This is why it is to You I run.” I know that it is my God who is supplying me with the strength and courage to always keep on keepin’ on.

I have discovered my new best friend through this last week: Epson Salt Baths! INSTANT relief!

#newrunner  #courage  

FUEL THE WAG!

Recently, I picked up a copy of Carol M. Green’s book, Run at Any Age: A Beginner’s Guide for Adults. It also came with a companion Runner’s Journal. This has been an amazing book on so many levels!  One of the things I have focused on is to find blessings during my run. During my walks I like to pick up heart-shaped rocks, but during my runs I have been listening for great words and phrases in the music that I listen to during the walk/run to spur me on. Today came in the form of a commercial for dog food.  The announcer was talking about zoning in on what gets your dog excited enough to wag his tail and then how to “fuel the wag”. I started wondering about the things that can “fuel the wag” for my new running experience.

First of all, I am 49 years old, I am overweight, and I have NEVER, (can I repeat that?) NEVER run a day in my life.  I love to walk but have never ran and certainly would never dream of running in front of people. I learned that the author didn’t start running until her late 40s as well. As I started reading, she was confronting every excuse I had: I can’t do it, what if I do it wrong, what if someone sees me and on and on and on.  Her bottom line for those excuses was “Get over yourself.”

So this week I went running for the first time outside where people could see me!  Honestly, as you are trying to gasp for breath it gets to a point that you just really don’t care who sees you and might even get to the point that you hope someone does see you if you are in need of help! I haven’t gotten to that point yet. 

Carol has given great ideas to keep the run fun and motivating: listen to music, chew gum, wear fun clothes. She even suggested if we were truly concerned about people seeing us, we could wear a hat and sunglasses so people wouldn’t recognize us. One thing I am really enjoying is logging my workouts. I can keep track of my miles accrued. It is great incentive! I have been wearing fun running clothes each day to make me feel like a runner.   These are great things to fuel the wag!

I am only on day four of incorporating running into my routine and I have started small (alternating walking and running from one power pole to the next). I am going for the small victories right now. The last two days, I have only been able to run 10 poles. Today I ran 13!

I took my book with me to an event today and was going to highlight sections of the book. In writing, we are told that every word and every sentence should go toward the main topic of the book. In novels, you will see a lot of descriptive, sometimes unnecessary narrative and I have learned that is to build word count since novels are generally around 40,000 to 70,000 words. As I was reading my running book, I saw that every word and every sentence was pertinent to the topic of running. I would have to highlight every word of the book!

I am excited for this new journey. For once in my life, I am not exercising to lose weight. I have changed my mindset that I want to exercise to be healthy. I have many grandchildren now and I want to see them grow up and have children of their own. I want to be around to see that!  That is my goal. The feeling of achievement is just icing on the cake!

#newrunner  #behealthy