Call me crazy but...

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I cannot begin to tell you how much I love running.

It's actually really surprised me how much I enjoy it. 

Despite the fact that my morning alarm wakes me too early at 5am and the night seemed to have flown by, I love the feeling of putting on my gear and my shoes, grabbing my iPhone and earphones, clicking on RunKeeper and heading out the door in the quiet of the morning, where it's still dark and most of the world hasn't yet woken.

I usually do a warm up walk for about a kilometre. Then I stretch out my hip flexors as advised by my chiropractor. Then I start running.

The first wall hits within the first 200 metres. I wonder if it will be today that I give up and say that it's all too hard. I argue with my mind and body. 

"Come on! You know this is the first wall. It always happens. Push! It will get better!"

Then comes a shuddering breath and I'm through.

This morning's run was....dare I even say it....a pleasure? I didn't think it would be. I was all geared up for it to be a slog. Hormonally I'm headed into a rough patch. Apparently my hips kind of lock up as I head towards my period and this is the week it normally happens. It didn't. I hadn't even really planned to jog. Just a brisk walk. But when I got down to the reserve a kilometre down the road (well, actually it's just under 800m) I did a stretch and started....and ran......and the wall wasn't too bad....and I kept going and going and going.

The second wall hits around 3.5km in and I slow down a bit but today it wasn't too bad and I kept going through it, enjoying the rhythmic pounding of feet on pavement. My breathing had managed to find a steady, easy rhythm. My mind felt clear and I let it meander around my thoughts and clear out some of the cobwebs.

I finished off the last kilometre with a lap around the reserve across the road from my house. Normally the last 200m are a nightmare with my muscles screaming for the end. Not today. As I approached the end I thought, "I really could do another lap!" but I didn't because of time constraints. Maybe next time.

I jogged a total of 5km and walked 0.94km at an average of 9.13min/km.  It felt great. I got home and devoured breakfast. Running makes me hungry.

I registered for the 5.5km course for Run for the Kids yesterday. I think I'm ready.