Running & Resolutions

Its New Year's time again and I seem to blog more now than in the rest of the year. Hopefully I can rectify that and actually (a little more) write consistently. In this time of year resolutions have been weighing heavy on my mind. What to resolve for? Why resolve? Is a resolution actual a medium for real change? Why do the things I resolve for seem to fizzle?

This year, no resolutions, just actions.

It all started in November. After coming home from India and feeling like a giant balloon I put on my work out gear challenged my nemesis...the treadmill.

I ran.
Comfortably.

It was a new feeling, odd and slightly uncomfortable, yet exciting and exhilarating at the same time. I ran!

The next day, full of excitement,I started looking at races in my area. I started talking to my runner friends. An avid runner told me about the First Run. It happens on New Years, at midnight.

5...
4...
3...
2...
1...
Happy New Year!
RUN!

I took the plunge. I did it. I jumped in with 2 feet. I signed up.

Feeling emboldened in early December I took on a new foe. The gym. Now, this was not my first time at the gym. I had been going on and off since the summer. Most of my classes were water aerobics. For some reason the water acted as a shield. It let me hide. But in this state of mind, it was not a time to hide. I walked in, walked to the treadmill and ran!

I ran!

In front of people.

At the gym a few days later I was early for an aerobics class, I was milling about at the brochures and the general manager asked me if I wanted to sign up for the Fitness Challenge. YES! Without hesitation or question.

The Fitness Challenge started a whole new ball rolling... how else could I challenge myself. I download ed a Couch to 5K app and found a 5K race that was far enough in the future that I had time to prepare and soon enough that I couldn't sit on my laurels.

Now, I had a goal.

I faced my foe the treadmill and was winning. I concurred the gym. Emblazoned with confidence, pride and motivation on a nice, clear, but ridiculously cold Saturday morning, I did the unthinkable.

I RAN OUTSIDE.

on the street.

With my head held high.

Panting and sweating I just kept running.

And then it happened... I saw my shadow. I barley recognized it as me. With all the changes to my body and in this new environment... I saw myself running.

I am a runner.

I AM A RUNNER!

I realized in that moment that I had become someone and something that I never thought was possible for me. It opened new opportunities in my mind and new feelings in my heart.

I am a runner, without resolution, but with action!