Health, Fitness, and Running

I've always been active in some way or another. When I was little, back in the good ole days, we played outside until the street lights came on. We played in our yard, walked and rode bikes around the neighborhood, played hide and seek and caught lightening bugs! Gosh I miss those days sometimes. I was also in Tae Kwon Do. Some of you may know this about me but some may not. When I was 12, I got my black belt. Who would have thought, little ole me with a black belt. :) Once I was in high school, I was in the band and a cheerleader for a little while and also walked to school every day which was probably about a 1/2 mile or more from my house. Once in college, I was in the marching band (believe it!), walked all over campus and started working at the campus gym. A little later, I got a job at the fitness center on an air force base where I worked the front desk and also taught a circuit training class. I loved it! Then my next job was at a huge gym in Corpus Christi, TX. I loved working there too and I met some great people there.I love being involved in fitness. If it was worth the small pay, I'd do it now. Enough of the rambling about the history of my fitness involvement. I've always known that I enjoy working out and enjoy fitness so I guess it makes sense that it's what I was drawn to. Out of all of this fitness I've done, I've never been a runner, until NOW! I used to try to run but I always felt tightness in my chest which scared me so I would stop. I tried a few different times and just assumed that maybe I shouldn't run. I knew that it was a good workout though. I can walk all day, miles and miles before tiring so I finally looked into training to run. I heard about Couch to 5K so I thought I'd try it. It starts off slow, jogging a small distance and then walking, rotate. It builds up your stamina. Wow! I CAN run! The only thing about it that disappoints me is that if I skip a week or two, I lose some of what I've been able to do. I always have to go back several days or a week. I set a goal to do a 5K. I knew that I'd have to be able to run part of it but I got behind on my training due to not having time to run. The most I had ever ran before my 5K was 8 minutes. I wasn't expecting to be able to run very much at the race. I amazed myself though! I ran the entire 3.2 miles without stopping!!!! Ok, running isn't the word, jogging was more like it. I was passed by a pregnant woman and a speed walker. I'm not kidding! The point is, I ran at my own pace and never stopped, as bad as I wanted to. I was proud of myself!! I did it! Not only did I run, but I ran a 5k, one that benefited a Fire Department so that made it worth the pain. Four months later, I did the Color run. That was soooo much fun!! I highly recommend it. I am signed up to do it again in March!

If you think you can't run, you CAN. Don't doubt yourself. Anyone can do it. It just takes training to do it. Make sure you stay consistent. Find a running buddy. That has helped me a lot. It helps when you have someone making you accountable. God wants us to take care of our body, our temple but also our hearts for HIM.


1 Timothy 4:8
For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.