I stress, therefore I run.

Hello world;

First off, I want apologize for neglecting you. You might find comfort in knowing you weren't the only thing I neglected to do this week.... yet there's no point in dwelling in the past!

So, here's the good news: I just got back from the gym and I feel EUPHORIC. After a stressful week of dealing with school shenanigans, I started feeling really crappy on Tuesday which lasted throughout the week. I therefore did not make my promise to run (or at least exercise) every day since last post. Shocker. I know this is going to be hard and that it's going to take time for me to adjust my schedule properly, but I promise,  I'm going to work on that. I suppose you'll just have to trust me :)

I'm going to give you a little background on my running history, because I feel it's important for you to understand our love, and very much hate relationship. So I'm just going to give it to you straight: for most of my life, I've despised running. Don't get me wrong, I've played sports my entire life (basketball and tennis being my fortes), yet running was always a punishment to me. Running, simply for the sake of running, always seemed like such a stupid, boring waste of time. I held this philosophy for most of my life, up until I came to college. 

I started picking up the habit of running when I began to feel the pressure to avoid the "freshman fifteen." Being an athlete my entire life has always provided me with the motivation for working out, simply because practices and games were mandatory. I loved the sports, therefore I didn't mind putting in the hard work. I've always been familiar with the gym, and since coming to college I've become even more familiar. It's sort of what the kids do here. Everyone goes to the freaking gym. You could say it's one of the many meccas here on campus.

SO, back to my story. Going to the gym. Yes. Okay, so in the spring of my freshman year, I was asked by one of the girls in my service org, Marians (shout out!), if I was interested in running the Nike Women's Marathon in SF. I looked at her like she was crazy. I could not fathom running more than to my fridge and back. (Okay so I wasn't that lazy, but you get the point). Long story short, I decided to sign up for the damn thing, thinking it would help motivate me in getting back in shape like I was when I was playing sports. Another thing that I forgot to mention that is PROBABLY important to include here, is that I've had two knee reconstructive surgeries. I blew out both of my knees playing varsity basketball, once in sophomore year and once as a senior. Having to start from scratch was something I was very, very used to. My physical therapist used to always say that anyone can stay in shape, it's the starting over from scratch part that's difficult.  

I decided that since coming to college and never having gotten back in the same shape I was while playing ball, I wanted to do this to prove that I could. Well, that and the fact that a bunch of my friends signed up! It was a challenge, one of the biggest challenges I have ever had to overcome. I ended up training really hard that summer and came back in the fall to complete the marathon (I actually only ran the half marathon, but still, 13.2 miles!!) I felt so proud of myself; crossing that finish line is a moment I will never forget. 

Which brings us back to today, the present. Ever since the marathon I've been lazy! I've lost my ability to run really long distances, and miss feeling the best high I've ever felt, that of the runners high. I guess you could say that throughout training this past summer, I fell in love with running. (hence, love/hate relationship).

So I'm slowly making my way. Today was a success - I ran 5 miles in about 50 minutes. I did this in intervals, however (jogging and running), and felt that really made it worth my while. I also did strength work for about 45 minutes, making my workout a good one! I really needed this after my week, and already I feel the stress lifted. I need to MAKE the time to run every day, because it relaxes me. It gives me the opportunity to be with my thoughts, and to be at peace with myself. Sometimes I can get so caught up in the stresses life provides, and running just for 50 minutes has proven to be extremely therapeutic for today.

Let's hope this optimism continues. I'm thinking it will.

More long, boring posts later. Till then....

Cheers!

Kelsey