Managed to escape from the house yesterday mid-morning to go out and buy new running shoes. And then after I got home and the girls were down for naps, and before Andrew left for work, I actually managed to go running again!

As a child I hated any kind of physical activity, especially anything that made me sweat. Swimming was OK because I couldn't feel the sweat, but running? Running if I was not being chased by something violent? A thousand times no.



So happy I get to do this again. Trying not to injure myself while doing it.

I forgot to record here --

Ran Thursday morning.
Best excuse not to run: I'd just done it the previous day!
Reason I did it anyway: Wanted to.
Distance: 6 blocks
End results: Had to hock a nasty blob of sour spit onto the street as I got home. Ish. But later in the day I felt great!

Wanted to run Saturday morning, but it was raining, so I went up to the attic and did the full yoga routine I learned at Eight Limbs Yoga several years ago. I'm very much out of condition for yoga, too, but it was a good workout.

Yoga is wonderful. No matter how stiff and sore your body is, its gentle movements will help. And for people who are further along, it's a very fulfilling way to stimulate all the systems in your body. There are even yoga exercies to stimulate your intestines and colon -- it's not just about the muscular system. The focus on breathing is so meditative, and it's philosophical, too.

Ran again this morning.
Best excuse not to run: I could be finishing my Sudoku puzzle!
Reason I did it anyway: Felt antsy and tingly, lying in bed thinking about running. Just get up and run!
Distance: 7 blocks. I'm definitely in better condition already. I made it much farther before I had to stop and pant.
End results: Proud of myself. Got to exchange waves with the paper girl. And now I won't feel at all guilty about eating some delicious, unhealthy food at the Memorial Day gathering today.

I started running. I'm not really sure why. There are many factors that finally all seemed to come together and... make me start running. It's kind of weird.

Two fellow PEPS moms are long-time runners, and they were talking about it at a recent meeting.
The book "The Philosopher's Diet" recommends it. I love that book, and I believe he's telling the truth about running and health.
My breasts are smaller now, so there's less "bounce factor."
I'm 30 pounds lighter than I was pre-pregnancy (thank you, breastfeeding!!!!!!), so moving myself is much easier than it was.
I used to not exercise because I wore glasses, and they'd slip off if my face sweated, but I couldn't see without them. Well, guess what -- I wear contacts now. No excuses.
I like the feeling I have AFTER running. (Not necessarily the feeling I have while I'm running. Not yet. I'm in no condition yet.)
I want to set a good example for Vivian.
I want to live a long, healthy life so I can enjoy watching Vivian grow up.
I've been eating a very healthy diet for several months now. My body was telling me it was time to take the next step.
I've done much more difficult things in my life. Much more difficult things. If I could do those things, I could do this.

So, I took the next step. Many of them. And they were running steps.

I ran Sunday morning.
Best excuse not to run: If I start, I'll have to keep doing this.
Reason I did it anyway: My body felt antsy without having been exercised in a long time.
Distance: 6 blocks, alternating running and walking. It was difficult. I had to stop and pant a lot.
End results: Glowing all day, pleasantly sore the next day, especially my abdominal and side muscles. Who knew?

Then I ran again this morning.
Best excuse not to run: I'm snuggled next to my husband in my nice warm bed, and it's 5:30 AM!
Reason I did it anyway: If I don't do this for myself, no one else will.
Distance: Again, 6 blocks, alternating running and walking. Still difficult, but I think maybe a shade easier?
End results: Glowing physically. Severe mood swings have been evened out.

If nothing else, it's difficult to feel depressed after you've just done something really difficult, and done it for yourself. If nothing else, you feel a glow of accomplishment, which definitely helps in combatting depression.