OH! Ohio!

I have to admit there are few things I enjoy more than running. Most of them are people. While I've been trying to get out there more and enjoy myself, it was still pretty difficult to get myself to a point that I was satisfied with my run.  Be it the time, or the distance, or even the energy I put in to it, just couldn't get there. Though, I think I'm starting to find it.

I was in Ohio the other day and right behind the hotel was a paved path. I knew it was there and I wanted to get out and run it, but I found myself laying in a giant king size hotel bed with about 7 pillows around me. The desire to get out and run in 27° was far less than the desire to stay in that bed. After about 15 minutes of scrolling mindlessly through facebook, I saw a post from someone about them getting a time they were proud of. I sat and thought about my lack of that feeling. The feeling of excitement while I looked at my watch. The feeling of having nothing left at the end of a run. The feeling of your legs burning but you get past it and keep running. No matter what your time or pace, those things are ( to me) what defines a "hard run."

I got up.

His time wasn't far out of reach of what I knew I could do. I've been feeling pretty good lately and I've been on a a lot of hills, so Ohio is flat. I went out to match that time.

I had only planned on 8, but somewhere around 6 I realized that I could do an extra 2 pretty easy. So i did. At the end of the run I looked down at my pace and was happy that I had roughly 7:15/ mile. The exact same pace that I could barely hold up for 4 miles a few weeks ago when I had that group run. I have to say, I was happy. It's not the time I want to stay at, nor is the times I'm used to, but it made me feel good that I could do it.

The next morning I went out to do it again, and nailed it. This time a few seconds faster. Felt good to find out it wasn't a fluke.

I found my form ( I can't hold it for long anymore) I found my breathing ( I lose it easily) I (re) found that part of running that makes me happy.

It's been a little over 30 days since I started this, and the no booze thing is really doing well. Still not drinking coffee. Not sure if that one is important or not, but it's here for the duration.

I've lost a little over 10lbs and I can see a noticable difference in my body again. Leg muscles, stomach, arms. They're all coming back.


I think that's something that I lose sight of sometimes. It's hard to be dedicated, when there are so many things coming at you from different parts of your life. Work, Family, bills, cars, etc. Though, at the end of the day. If I can't get out and run. All of those things will take over and I won't have a way to figure them out.

I always liked this video ( probably because of the music ) figured I'd share - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsSC2vx7zFQ