Good morning chickadoodees! How are ya?
I am sleepy weepy, mainly because of the project (my Baby Book!) that caused my major lack of snoozage this weekend, but it’s totes fine because it is a-dorable. I am so excited to get it back so I can photograph it for you guys:)
Today I decided I should talk about a breakthrough I had this weekend.
So, here is my Tangent for the week:)
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Like many people, I have had a “complicated” relationship with wellness. Particularly, with running.
When I first began running, it was in high school and purely for the purpose of being “skinny” like the other runners. Needless to say, I hated it. I hated how much it made me want to hurl, made my legs burn, and put me out of breath.
But, since I’ve switched to a cleaner diet, all of this has changed. Five miles is suddenly the “norm”, and it doesn’t seem that hard. I attribute my new endurance to my diet, but also to my Dad.
This weekend, I went on a run with my Dad on the canal. It was sunny, warm, and the water was sparkling. It was absolutely perfect.
I brought my new baby with me, and Padre pushed me the entire way. I told him I didn’t want to back down and walk at all, which was a big step for me. Running seven or eight miles on the treadmill is no big deal for me, but running outside is not the same thing. My body just was not ready for the outdoor runs, so when I would go with the Padre, my legs would feel stiff as tree trunks and I would have to walk a few times.
This was semi-disappointing to me, but once we got a good pace on, it became effortless. My form has changed drastically over the last few weeks, and that definitely helped. I have been following the Chi Running principles, landing on my middle/forefoot, leaning forward, and kicking my legs back. I’ve noticed a huge difference in my speed and how my joints can handle running. Patella-femural syndrome, my ASS. Ain’t got nothin’ on this girl!
We ended up doing just over seven miles, and at the end I was sprinting like it was nobody’s business. I don’t even know where the energy came from, all of a sudden my legs were propelling me so fast that the Padre was warning me not to trip:)
It felt so so good, and it was exactly what I needed. For weeks, I had been doubting myself, thinking that my knee would never get better, and that my muscles were just disagreeing with running. But, a few batches of hummus later, I finished my long run with the Padre after not running for more than a few weeks.
Brendan Stats:
In my own mind, this is not a good pace. In fact, it makes me feel kind of like a slug. But what I have to remember is after injury, it’s baby steps at a time 
Breakthrough:
Then on Sunday, the Baby Sister wanted to go to the gymmy gym gym, so she used the machines indoors while I basked in the sunshine and ran along the canal. It was so sunny delicious gorgeous bloggies, you would have peed.
In my mind I promised myself to wait at least a mile before I looked at my pace and when I finally did, I almost cried. I have not gone faster than a nine minute mile (outdoors, on my own) in um, ages.
After I saw that number, this hugh jass smile got plastered on my face and didn’t leave. I just soaked in the sun, the water, the grass, the fields, everything. Soon enough, my eyes were tearing up. This wasn’t the first time, but it was different.
I realized what I have been looking for this whole time. I’ve caught glimpses of it, but not until that moment did I really feel it.
I fell in love with running.
Not the legs or abs that comes with it, but the joy of propelling myself underneath the sunshine, and seeing all of the beautiful things around me. The scenery seemed to be so much more beautiful in my little sneaker-endorphine world.
I realized, that’s why the world runs. Because it gives us joy, it makes us strong, and it makes us appreciate the world and the people around us. When we hit the pavement, we are becoming closer to the Earth. I don’t care how many gadgets and gazoos you carry around when you’re running, but you’re becoming better friends with Mother Nature.
It’s a circle of appreciation that makes gives me so much joy to say that I will be running my first Half Marathon on July 23rd, 2011. A week later, I will be turning eighteen.
Here’s to a lifetime of joy 🙂
xoxox,
Workout Song of the Day:
Rolling in the Deep by Adele. Love. her.
Questions:
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Have you ever had a breakthrough?
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Why do you run?
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Tell me about your relationship with running, diet, or fitness!
Chef Katelyn 