A month ago I saw a former co-worker out running in the cold, grey afternoon, miles from her house. I was filled with admiration. She looked so cool and .. well, just everything I had visions of myself being. Ya know, like, tough, and doing her thing.
So anyway,I swallowed the last bite of mydouble cheeseburger and waved like I was cool too... But her image stayed with me....and got me thinking...about thisBarefoot/Minimalist running thing I had just read about, and double cheeseburgers, and what I really wanted.
That evening I took a walk, and I thought about my feet. More precisely, about the relationship between the ground and my feet and how I could make some real love happen there. I researched BF and Min running and I ordered some shoes. I started being barefoot whenever possible. I started a journal.
And then I did it. I ran a few steps, in the woods of course, where no one could see me. (Like a deer.) Because I was scared. I thought it would be like the other billion times I tried to run. When I felt like a box of spare parts. Ugh. But it was better than that. Way better. Of courseit was only a few steps, and it was hard because I was gasping for breath. Even so,Ive stayed at it.
My muscles have been changing, this I know because they were pretty dernsore. I mean like, "Oh Yeeouch!" (Or insert Forbidden Word ofyour choice..)especially when my feet hit the floor for the 3:30 am potty run. Oh yeah, forgot to wiggle them a bit before standing. Its exciting to say that that has really tapered off. Surprisingly fast.
I take rest days, and do a little massage when necessary but each time I go out I push myself just a tiny bitfarther. Im finding that spot where it just feels good. Im sweating.Oh, and I am running in public now---OMG! Yes! Its true. A big deal for me (because I was more chicken than deer at first). And Im not needing those walk breaks so much.Im not ready for a 5k yet, but I will be by summer.
Last night I re-read my first journal entry. The one about seeing my friend. I wrote, "I wish I could do that..." Then I realized that I am. Im running....like a deer.
So anyway,I swallowed the last bite of mydouble cheeseburger and waved like I was cool too... But her image stayed with me....and got me thinking...about thisBarefoot/Minimalist running thing I had just read about, and double cheeseburgers, and what I really wanted.
That evening I took a walk, and I thought about my feet. More precisely, about the relationship between the ground and my feet and how I could make some real love happen there. I researched BF and Min running and I ordered some shoes. I started being barefoot whenever possible. I started a journal.
And then I did it. I ran a few steps, in the woods of course, where no one could see me. (Like a deer.) Because I was scared. I thought it would be like the other billion times I tried to run. When I felt like a box of spare parts. Ugh. But it was better than that. Way better. Of courseit was only a few steps, and it was hard because I was gasping for breath. Even so,Ive stayed at it.
My muscles have been changing, this I know because they were pretty dernsore. I mean like, "Oh Yeeouch!" (Or insert Forbidden Word ofyour choice..)especially when my feet hit the floor for the 3:30 am potty run. Oh yeah, forgot to wiggle them a bit before standing. Its exciting to say that that has really tapered off. Surprisingly fast.
I take rest days, and do a little massage when necessary but each time I go out I push myself just a tiny bitfarther. Im finding that spot where it just feels good. Im sweating.Oh, and I am running in public now---OMG! Yes! Its true. A big deal for me (because I was more chicken than deer at first). And Im not needing those walk breaks so much.Im not ready for a 5k yet, but I will be by summer.
Last night I re-read my first journal entry. The one about seeing my friend. I wrote, "I wish I could do that..." Then I realized that I am. Im running....like a deer.
