One day I had an epiphany. And just like that, I started running.
Ok, it wasn’t quite as simple as that. I didn’t pull off a marathon my first night running! But I’ll tell you, when I got home from my run that night, I felt like I was on top of the world. Sure I only managed a hundred meters or so before having to walk again, and it took me a while before I could do another run interval, but it was still awesome! I was running!
You see, up until that night, I’d had this narrative in my head which consisted of me thinking that if I really wanted to get serious about getting fit and losing weight (which to my mind is different than being healthy, but more on that in another post!), I would have to be some kind of fitness freak, always working out and practically living in the gym. But just the thought of that had me exhausted!
One day this summer, that narrative totally changed in an instant…like I said…epiphany! (Cue firefly lighting up over my head :D) Anyway, I don’t want to go into the big long story but let me just say that someone inspired me to start running. They inspired me because they were physically fit, active and healthy but they didn’t make a big deal of it.
Their attitude towards fitness was more ‘this is just something I do, part of who I am’ as opposed to making an issue or a fuss about it. And I realised then that I didn’t have to make a big deal of it either. You see, I’d been making it this BIG THING in my head and that’s what was keeping me from doing anything! Remember from My ‘Miserable’ Chocolate-less life that I’m an all or nothing girl? Well, up until July I was a ‘nothing’ girl when it came to fitness because the ‘all’ terrified me. It was being inspired to live IN BETWEEN all or nothing that got me out the door.
I’m always going to be grateful to that person for their inspiration. I love running. I love the running community I’ve met on twitter. I love the sense of accomplishment I’ve come home with after every run. I love knowing the goals I’ve set for myself, short term and long term, are actually achievable!
Now that, I’ll admit, IS a big deal.
This Fat Girl Runs 
That’s really well written, I can relate to what I’ve read here. There is a euphoria, runners high, whatever you’d like to call it that I don’t get from other activities, cycling, canoeing, etc. It’s the one sport I really miss when I’m injured or for whatever reason I can’t run. At the same time its the easiest thing in the world to do, you just have to want to….
Thanks, Patrick! There have been times I couldn’t go running and yes, I missed it! I think it’s because I’m totally relying on my body when I run, I’m not using any instruments or machines. It’s amazing what a body can do!
I’m afraid I’m a sucker for technology, GPS, heart rate monitor, etc. Have to know how far, how steep, how long it took, how many calories, pace….
Anyway, best of luck with the five kilometres tomorrow, enjoy….
Well, technology IS great for keeping track of your efforts! I do like my gps tracker for that! 😀 But that still can’t make me get up and run so I’m not relying on it to get me out the door (just relying on it to help me get better once I’m out there 😀 )
Of course, I agree GPS won’t get you out of bed on those cold winters mornings when the duvet just won’t let go…..
Happy running….