I just earned me some Beau Jo's, darnit.

Today's run:
Couch to 5K Week Seven, Day One
2.57 miles/34:10

This is just a quickie because I have a lunch date with my handsome feller at one of my favorite addictions in the world: Beau Jo's.  If you don't live in Colorado, I'm sorry, because you are missing some of the best, most doughy and delightful pizza you could ever imagine.

Add in my cute boyfriend and you pretty much have perfection.  Well... and cake.  Obviously.


But I wanted to make a quick post because I had some seriously deep thoughts in my run today, kids.  It was like a philosophy class in my noggin.  What happened (and this will explain my slower pace) is that I have decided to officially adopt the Jeff Galloway run-walk-run method.  I think part of the reason that I have been stressing about running, and why I ditched my run on Tuesday completely, is because I am intimidated by running long periods of time without stopping.  I know it's silly because I've done it before, when I was heavier and more out of shape, but what I realized in the middle of my run was that thinking is actually the problem, not the long periods of running!

Okay, I'm not sure that made sense.  Let's try this again.  I realized today that yes, I am intimidated by running longer periods of time without stopping.  Part of the reason I love Couch to 5K is that it works in intervals - run for a set period of time, then walk for a set period of time, and repeat.  But now, it's late enough in the program that I'm supposed to be running for 25 straight minutes.  While it isn't too terribly long, I know that I get bored and winded and cranky if I run that long because I insist on pushing myself.  So why not just add walking intervals and be done with it?  Because I sit there and think "Jessica, you're dumb, you've run 25 minutes straight before.  You've run much longer than that before!  Why are you being such a baby about it?"  Um, excuse me, voices-in-my-head... but that's mean.

And that's when it hit me.  It IS mean, and I would never speak that way to anyone else, so why am I doing it to myself?  Isn't my running supposed to be about me, and for me?  Let's face facts here, kids, I get excited when I can maintain an 11 minute mile.  I ain't winning any races anytime soon, unless nobody else shows up.  And that's completely okay.  I came to terms with the fact that I am not destined to be a marathon winner a long time ago.  But for some reason, I let that affect my self image.  The truth is, I don't want to run a million marathons and win them all!  Even if I felt like my body could withstand that, it would mean a lot more training than I want to do.  I don't even like running every day... I like running every other day and shaking my groove thang with Chalene on my off days.  But does that make me less of a runner?  I used to think it did, but I'm over that mentality.

So, my big realization of the day?  

I am a runner!

Okay, so maybe it wasn't that philosophical of a discussion going on up there.  But like I said in my "speak da troof" about body image... I'm working on it, and that's the best any of us can do.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to be a good date and wash the sunscreen and dirt off my face before I shove pizza into it.  

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