The first step

was an easy 2 mile run this morning. No record breaking time here, just an easy lope through the neighborhood. I did 2 miles in 28 minutes with a couple of short walk breaks. Not bad. A good place to start anyway.

One thing that I forget when I don't run is how good running makes me feel. I feel like a total rock star after 2 miles. It clears the mind, opens the lungs, gets the blood flowing, it's absolutely awesome. It hurts yes, but the good far outweighs the pain of running.

One thing I remembered when I was running (and I'll have to dig up old journals to verify this) was that the last time I was supremely happy with my body was when I was running a lot. I was running a race at least every other weekend (5 & 10ks). I was running during the week consistently. I was strength training but mainly as a way to improve my running. Also, I was working out for the sheer joy of it. I loved moving my body and sweating. As a result of this it was also the time when I was at my lowest weight in recent history. So I'm going back to that place. I love running so I'm going to make it my main activity. I enjoy weight training so that will play a big roll. I love biking and that's a good cross trainer. I also want to get in some Pilate's and yoga but I'll have lots of free time after next week :)

The first race of the year is a 10k and I'm not ready for that but the next race, Jan 11, is a 5k. I'll be ready for that one. There is a race every month until April then there is almost a race every weekend. So that's what I'm shooting for. Running. Run, Forest, Run......