Day 21

Just need to be honest...sometimes the hardest part of my run each day is getting myself motivated to start. Even before I put on my workout clothes, I’m questioning if I’d rather just do it later. Do I have enough energy now? A lot of these thoughts started when the runs prescribed by my Couch to 5K program were longer and continuous. Truthfully, running 25 minutes was scaring me.

So today I chose to run Coach Bennett’s podcast, “I don’t want to run”. And again, he got me thinking. He first had me think of all of the reasons I don’t want to run after giving a few examples. This is what I came up with:

-I’m tired.

-Maybe I’ll have more energy to complete this big of a run later today.

-I’m old.

-I’ve let myself get so far out of shape.

-I have a long way to go.

After I got all of that negativity out there and acknowledged it, I had already completed a lot of my run. Despite feeling this way sometimes, I am still getting myself on the treadmill and I’m still doing it. During the run, Coach Bennett will talk, encourage, then give me something to think about and then he’s quiet. Then he repeats that cycle, and each time it brings you closer to completion.

After the halfway point, he was talking about being proud of yourself even on runs where your attitude isn’t quite there, or if you aren’t having as good of a workout as you think you should. That even with that, you’re choosing to run.

And I am proud of myself. And here’s why:

-I ran 25 minutes today!

-I ran before lunch.

-I’m 50 years old and I am running!

-So far I’ve stayed healthy by stretching, doing core and increasing my running slowly.

-I am running every day and eating right, and each day that I do that helps me live healthier, feel better and more confident, and lose weight.

I did it! Another day done! 21 days done, actually. 😃❤️ I’m proud of myself!