Spirited Shopping

I went shopping this afternoon with one of my best friends for new running clothes. I was really just there to accompany her, but I decided to splurge and treat myself to something as well. I ended up purchasing a new pair of running tights and was so excited about them by the time I got home that I quickly put them on and went out for a run. My run was slightly longer than my normal routine, but I surprisingly felt good the whole time.

I know that it's not affordable to go out and purchase new running attire every time the motivation dwindles, but I'm going to be excited about these tights for awhile. I felt great in them, and I owe that all to running. So, if I wear these while running, and continue to feel great, maybe in a few months when I go on another running shopping spree, I'll feel even better! I think it's essential to keep the motivation up, at least personally. So while I might not be able to buy a new running outfit every time I need that little extra push, I can get a running magazine, or a new running playlist or a new running route from online to keep me interested and excited about running.

I Run For Me

I realized something this morning. Almost everything I've done in my entire life has been for someone else. I've barely had any hobbies that were just for me, just for the sole purpose of making me happy. That's what running is for me. It's finally me stepping up for myself and doing something that I enjoy. I don't worry about working around someone's schedule or how it will make them feel; I just run. And I think that's why I keep coming back here. I think that's why I get up early every morning, even when I don't want to, and go out for a run. It's because I can. Because I don't have to listen to anyone else. I don't have to take their feelings, schedules, lives into consideration.

For the first time in my life, I'm happy because I'm putting the effort into making myself happy. Running does this for me. Yes, at the end of every run I feel sore and cramped and tired and sweaty, but I also feel elation and pride and freedom. I have the ability to go out there and zone out. To listen to the music I want to listen to. To do something good for me, and enjoy it.

I knew, 11 months ago, that when I started running it would be trial and error, stop and go, and many good days and bad days (weeks). But I stuck with it, sometimes not even knowing why. I know why, now. These past 11 months have been incredibly up and down, but I always had running; I always had an outlet. I'm not saying that running is the end all be all, but it's something. There's an indescribable feeling that comes over me when I'm finishing up a run. No matter what the day decided to bring, I know that at the end of my run it's all okay. It's that feeling, that feeling of inner calm and the "OK, I can handle this" feeling that make it worth it. And it is. It's always worth it. Because when I run, I run for me.

In Love With Running

Getting up this morning, I could not wait to put on my sneakers and go for a run. I actually woke up at 7:20am, on a Sunday, just because I was so excited about running. That thought alone makes me so happy. I'm officially back to being in love with running. I feel good while running, I feel good while thinking about running, and I feel good being me. Life has its way of sneaking in and bearing down with so many different stresses, especially for a single girl on Valentine's Day. Having an outlet, and a healthy outlet at that, is essential. Knowing that when I slide my feet into my sneakers every morning, I'm doing something to actively beat down the stresses and improve my life is wonderful. How could I not be in a fabulous mood for the rest of the day? Running really does bring a sense of calm into my life and mellows me out. I feel I can handle the stress after an early morning run now. I feel secure in my own body and I feel happy. If this is truly what running can bring, no wonder so many people run marathons.

Move Aside, Brooklyn

I went for a 1.5 mile run this morning and then walked 2 miles to work. While admittedly tired for a good portion of the morning, I also felt this incredible inner calm. My work is at its busiest this time of year, so getting in a good workout is always hard. Being able to come into the office feeling refreshed is really just exactly what I need for that extra push through these 13 hour days.

Recently I was chatting with my step mom about running and this blog and how I've been needing more motivation lately than usual. She ran competitively in college and still runs numerous races; distances ranging from 5ks to marathons. No matter the weather, she'll be out there on the trails, roads, treadmills. She's dedicated, she's motivated and she's head over heels in love with running. She is the best source to go to whenever I need an extra surge of motivation. She told me to start looking around for races in the next couple of months, and to start registering for them. This way I won't have impossible goals (being on the cover of Sports Illustrated), but rather much more manageable goals, such as running in more races. Who knows? Maybe Brooklyn Decker will have some competition ;)

Seriously, though. My stepmom made an excellent point: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. So go out there and register for those races and prove to yourself that not only do you have the desire to run, you have the ability to as well.

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

My morning run today was incredible. In all honesty, I was dreading getting out of bed earlier than normal and putting on spandex only to go run around outside in Boston, in February. However, it was one of the best runs I've ever had. I felt so free and relaxed, and when it was over, I had such a sense of accomplishment knowing that I had been so productive before the sun was even out.

I love running by people sitting in their cars, stuck in traffic. I get to wondering what they're thinking about seeing someone out running at 6:30am while they're just sitting there. They probably feel happy that they're not me, but maybe not. I like to think that I inspire some people to get motivated and go running. And even if I don't, it's nice to think about to keep myself motivated.

I'm really glad my run this morning went so well because I know it'll be what gets me out the door again tomorrow morning. Sometimes the hardest thing really is finding enough drive within yourself to get out the door. Once you're out the door though, it's pretty easy to keep going. Here's to a fabulous new start to running and continuing in knowing that running really does give you more than a healthy body...it gives you a healthy mind as well!