Today was my third (supposedly easier than the first two) day of running with the guys. We're completing seven one-minute running/ walking alternate reps each morning around 6:30 am with about 15 minutes of stretching (and this morning after a night of Jalisco's Mexican food) therapeutic release. ;) I prefer biking to running. Biking offers more scenery and accomplishment of distance. While biking you actually "get"somewhere worthwhile. You don't look or feel awkward while biking and slightly downhill moments provide a moment of rest while still heading to your destination. Plus its much easier to run errands and carry things while on a bike, including water, which is very hard to carry in your hand while running. Annoying. I've never liked running. I've never had any wish to like running or to begin a running regiment. Everything about it transfers me back in time to high school fitness day when I, a very overweight teenager with okay self-esteem but awkward body parts, was forced to run in the company of all of my classmates. In retrospect, I wish I still had a loud gym teacher with a whistle telling me what to do and forcing me to work out that hard at least once a week. And now that I can purchase my own undergarments as an adult, those awkward body parts aren't quite as "awkward" as they once were. I've asked myself why I wanted to run with the guys when I loathe anything closely related to running, jogging, or sprinting. I think the guys serve as a high school gym teacher minus the abruptness and whistle) with physical encouragement. I don't have to feel goofy running alone or look like a chubby girl trying to get in shape. I have friends who are running with me perhaps feeling just as goofy. I'm part of the mob this way and don't have to stand out. And though I hate running, I love the feeling after the work out. I love the empty feeling inside my chest and head. I love the satisfaction of saying, "Yes, its over. And I did it." I'm proud of myself and the guys and that euphoria remains the rest of the day. I feel productive. It can be related to the opposite feeling of watching movies all day while eating M&M's and snack food and knowing the day has been wasted and there is no way to recover that time. In short, I still hate running. I will still wish to go back to sleep each morning and plan out a long bike ride instead later in the day. I am, partially, enjoying this process and the feeling of push it gives. I am challenged to continue, even though it really does... suck. ;)
