i was running

I've been working out four to five times a week for a year now. It was getting hard to remember back to what life was like before I started. I have become accustomed to the workouts and what they do for me, my brain and my life. I have more energy, I get to snack more frequently (sometimes annoyingly so), my chores are completed and I just feel happy about life.

I also started training for a half marathon several weeks ago. I cannot tell you the impact that has had. It's like my brain needs me to run. The runs give me a constant state of focus and accomplishment. If I don't get anything for myself the rest of the day, I've still given myself (and my family) a huge gift. I just feel really great about it all the way around. I will be sad when my training is over because I have gained so much from it. I'm not sure that I can run long runs by myself. Hopefully I can convince at least one of my running partners to meet me once in awhile for a good long run.

As I said, I was having a hard time remembering what it was like before I started these regular workouts - then I got sick. I wasn't really that sick. I just had a slight cold - coughing, congestion and body aches. But that little cold made it really impossible for me to run. I forced myself to take four full days off and went for a run yesterday morning. It was too much, even with the four days off. It took me all day and night to recover from it. I know it sounds crazy, but I needed that run anyway. I haven't been myself. After about two days of not getting some sort of exercise I start to feel less motivated, less focused. I really start to remember the benefits of these crazy 5 am workouts. I get more grumpy, more messy and less likely to want to much besides....well....nothing.

I know that this all sounds a bit crazy. I know that some people think that I'm one of those insane people....and maybe I am. But who wouldn't do the same for themselves if they were in my shoes? If you dealt with a brain that seemed like mush sometimes and all you had to do was get out and get your heart rate up and your muscles pumping to sharpen your mind - wouldn't I be crazy not to do this for myself?