RUN FIEND RUN

I remember when I first decided to start running. I couldn't even make it half a block, without feeling like I was on the verge dying. I coughed and hacked, about halfway there, and then, I had to stop and walk. That's how it started for me. I ran as far as I could, and each day, I tried making it further, or at least to the point I was the day before, without stopping. It became a sort of challenge, where I was trying to push myself farther and farther. It became quite addictive, over time. I ran everyday, as time went on. Each time trying to push myself as far as I could, or, at least no less than the previous day. One mile turned into two, two into four, and four into eight, and eventually, I ended up running a half-marathon.

It was hard, to get up deliberately on a daily basis and run my ass off. I ran in almost every type of weather, too, except rain, and ice. I ran in mist, and snow, but not ice and rain, simply for safety's sake. I ran in 110ish degree weather, in hoodies and compression garments, sweating my ass off. I ran in 28ish degree weather, wearing shorts, again sweating my ass off. Sometimes, I would run twice a day, and sometimes, I would run in a rubber sweatsuit top. I did all of this, without one ounce of water, which in retrospect, was the craziest thing about all of it. I remember, I started to run, to be healthy. As I began losing weight, that became the motivation, but, shortly after that it became more. It became the challenge. It became the torture, the pain, and overcoming of it. I became proud of myself, and, I built a sense of confidence due to this. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything really. Running is one of those exercises, where the battle starts before, you even get up. It's the easiest of the exercises, yet, it's the hardest one to convince yourself to actually do. Once you build up the tolerance, it can go on, for as long as you can take it, then, it's just a repetitive action, you do daily.

This is everything with any type of weight in your life goes. You have to make it a priority, and even if you don't want to do it, do it anyway. Put yourself to the test on a regular basis, it's the only way to get better. This applies to everything you want to get better at. Wanna be a better parent, spouse, employee, athlete, cook, etc.? Practice daily, not just practice, but, continuously try to outdo yourself. Eventually this practice, or repetition, becomes, an addiction....an addiction....that's hard to walk away from, but, if it makes you better in some way, then that's a good thing.    -  925