For the past two weeks as I’ve been eating right and slowly getting back into exercising on a regular basis, I’ve been keeping my running goals fresh on my mind. Learning to run is a process so having smaller goals really keeps me motivated to push harder. My first running goal was to run a mile. I’ve ran two times in the last two weeks in an attempt to reach this goal. Each time I only made it about four minutes before stopping. I felt defeated but I knew that with time my goal would happen.
After yesterday’s morning walk, I came home and did a kickboxing workout that was on TV. I also did 100 jumping jacks and 50 squats. Feeling my heart beat so hard in my chest was such a joyous feeling because I knew I was pushing my body. Maybe it was the endorphins, or maybe it was me just dying to mark off a goal, but I was itching to go try and run a whole mile without stopping.
Before I knew it I had my new Garmin on, my shoes laced, and I was driving to the road I run on. I hopped out, didn’t think about warming up or stretching-I just took off. I didn’t care how fast or slow I ran. I just ran. I barely looked at my watch because I knew exactly where the half mile turn around was. Shortly after the turn around, I felt like I was breathing through a straw. My body and legs felt fine but my lungs felt like they were going to explode. I kept doing positive self talk and knew that if I could just make it back to the car then I’d have a goal to check off my list. Thank the Lord I made it back to the car in an upright position. Sure, I didn’t go fast and it hurt. But I did it. I felt like a rockstar and I felt like I could take on the world. One small goal down and I can’t wait to conquer the next goal!