Running Smoothly

Training has begun. Like spring training, but its winter. This is my second week of "training" to run the OC half marathon in May. Oh how different my body is since having my baby almost eight weeks ago. So much more different than after each of the boys. Each step I take is an effort, more so than its ever been before. Its not supposed to be this way. I exercised all through my pregnancy, mind you! I wasn't in stellar shape but I wasn't a lump on the log either. But you wouldn't be able to tell. Its a good thing this race is five months away! I'm not doing this alone though. I registerd for the training group too. It was expensive but its SO much more fun to run with a group than all by my lonesome, especially when we start running six, eight, and ten miles. I'm going to need the support of other crazies to get me through. Don't be fooled though, I really love it. I have silly dreams of actually breaking the 10 minute mile barrier (granted, I'm still hovering around 11:30 or 12). I subscribed to Runner's World and received my first issue a few weeks ago. I didn't want to put it down. Especially the article about why we all need a running partner. I have a love/hate relationship with running. Most of the time I hate taking the first few steps. I can talk myself out of doing my run almost every time. But you know what happens afterward? I come home a completely different person. I leave the house an inferior version of myself and when I get back, or when I finish my run on the treadmill, I've been upgraded. I am a better person. I handle stress better. I'm more patient. I'm more kind. I'm so much more fun to be around. I come back feeling like I could be on the cover of Runner's World....until I look in the mirror and am reminded I'm still me. I'm not going to lie and tell you that my motivation to run is for the love of running itself. I don't think you could even call what I do running, its more of a jog. I do it mostly just for the vanity and hope that I can drop some pounds and one day be a jaw dropper again....(haha). But it becomes so much more. Its my antidepressant, my therapy, my stress reliever, my trial of fire. My body is not running smoothly just yet but its running and I'm so thankful for that.