It’s been kind of slow in the training and eating better arena. I’m just plugging along on my Jeff Galloway “Just Finish” plan. Eating is a little less foolish, but not what it should be.

Yesterday morning, I ran 8 miles on the treadmill. I don’t now if you’ve ever run on the treadmill, but 8 miles on one is a LOOONG way. It is the most boring and uninspiring thing in the world. Ugh. I really don’t like running on the TM. Well, as I think about it, maybe it’s not ALL bad. There is the chance to catch up with all of the infomercials. I get to see all of the stuff that I didn’t even know I needed – and sometimes I even get offered the ‘two for one’ price if I could only call within the 19 minutes left for the commercial… Anyway. I am rambling. My husband calls this my ‘stream of thought’ style of writing.

ANYWAY… The plan said run 8 miles, so I did. I am souped up on anti-inflammatory medicine again, so I figured I’d be just fine. At about 3-1/2 or 4 miles, my knee (THE knee) started hurting. I thought “So what… I’m getting it fixed this week anyway” and kept going. I practiced my run-walk-run with a 1 to 1 and a half mile run followed by 2 minutes of walking at a brisk pace. As much as I dislike stopping to walk, it does help. I was able to maintain pretty good breathing and the rest always seemed to come when my knee needed it the most. It made me feel somewhat refreshed and sort of like I was starting a new run every time. That danged Jeff G knows his stuff, I guess. (I think he’s run hundreds of marathons like this… really – HUNDREDS according to his book.)

I went for my pre-op exam and had an interesting conversation with the PA. He asked me why I even WANTED to run. Before I answered, he told me running was overrated. Hmph… I rattled off some crap about why I run then I just told him that I run because I want to. Two years ago, I would never have imagined that I’d be defending my desire to run.

I want to run. I could easily not put myself through the discomfort, disappointment, hot mornings, lost sleep (I can’t manage to go to bed on time EVER) or blistered feet (I know, TMI) but I want to run. MAN – I WANT TO RUN. That made me smile. I like the way I feel when I finish a run. I like the way I feel when I think about all of the people that kind of wanted to get up and do something but didn’t have enough of whatever it takes to roll out of the bed and get out there. I like to know that I’ve encouraged someone else to be more active. I like hearing “Your heart is healthy” at the doctor’s office. I like setting a good example for my children. I like the ‘likes’ and ‘shout outs’ from friends who want to encourage me. I like the time I spend with my husband running. I like running with my friends. I like mapping a route, running it and then looking at it online afterward. I sooooo can’t wait to get back outside to run again. I miss my group. 😦

That’s why I grind like I do. I want to run. Wow. I WANT to run.

I can do it. (You can too, by the way!!)

ps… Please call me in the morning at 2 and remind me that I WANT to run 😉