Rejoice!

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Let's get back to the subject of running, shall we? At an event last night, I was asked if I was still running. "Yes," I replied, "I'm out there four days a week either running or walking." Someone else threw in the usual "How do you do that? I'd be dead!" comment (eye roll, laughter, sigh). I continued to tell the person asking the question that I do not take it for granted and I am so grateful to be running again. She asked if I had any pain to which I answered, "Mostly no, except when I stand in one spot for too long." She said, "That's great!" Yes! Yes, it is great, and I thank God! I don't know what has shifted for me mentally in the month of September, but this month of running has felt good, and I can say that I have enjoyed most of my runs. That doesn't mean I don't groan when the alarm clock goes off, because my bed is feeling really comfortable, but once I'm out there and back, I feel good! 

I have been trying to wake up and run without giving the miles too much thought. I haven't been making excuses for myself beforehand in case I can't complete the miles that await me. My thought process lately is to just start running at a comfortable pace and try to keep my mind calm before it sends my nervous system into panic mode. I don't know the science of it all, but once my brain gets signals that I'm in distress, it starts to want to save me by telling me to quit. It's all downhill from there. My breathing gets out of whack, my legs burn, feet go numb and, before I even know it, they go from running to a walk. I have been able to calm those voices before they get too loud. I don't want to go all-in and say that the runs have felt "easy," but we will go with a definite review that they have felt "moderately good."

If you're yawning your way through this blog, I assure you that your suffering is almost over. I know I share a lot of struggles with you, and we tend to prefer the drama over the mundane, but I had to dedicate this post to the fact that I am actually feeling good about where I'm at in my running journey. My timing is still not fast, and my miles are still not long but I am completing them with a smile of my face. That is a win! That is worth rejoicing over! That is worth sharing!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

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