Run Happy? Yes Please

Many of you know that I was undergoing ARP therapy to deal with an old injury in my hip that turned into a knee issue and sidelined my working out and running for a couple weeks. Dealing with all of this while being in the midst of legislative session and the stress, poor eating choices and consuming of alcohol that comes with session, put me at a serious disadvantage. I'm sure everyone gets to a point where they moan about going out for a run, or whine when the alarm goes off at 4:30 am for a 5:15 am class. But when injury put me on the bench, well I didn't like it. Not one bit.

When I finally was cleared to return to bootcamps and running I was overjoyed. My alarm made me happy. The long nights of work followed by early morning classes made me smile. And when I laced up my shoes and turned on my tunes, well I just embraced the mantra "Run Happy."

Two Sundays ago I ran 8.5 of the happiest miles I had run in quite some time. It was hot, muggy and wonderful. I certainly felt that run the next few days though! On that run I crossed over 250 miles since buying that iPod in November, 2013. A milestone I never, ever thought I would see.

This past Sunday I ran another 6 miles that were joyous beyond belief. I'm not overly religious; I don't usually spend a lot of time talking to God. But those 6 miles it was just me, my tunes, and my thoughts with the big man upstairs. I thanked Him for the path beneath my feet. I thanked Him for good coaches, good trainers, and good doctors. But mostly I thought about the Donna half marathon and the Boston marathon and then thanked Him for the fact that I could run when others could not. Sure it might seem a little silly when I'm pouring my heart out to God and Missy Elliot and Eminem are playing in the background. But that's how I roll. Or rather, that's how I ran.

Tomorrow I start a new milestone: I am challenging myself to get my eating back under control by starting the first round of Whole30, a food road map to kick start a healthy eating plan for life. If you don't know what it is, google it. Or better yet, buy yourself a copy of "It Starts With Food".

I'm not gonna lie, I'm nervous. I have doubts I can/will complete this challenge. But like all other challenges in my life, I first have to believe, and then take the step. So here goes nothing.