Run Jenna Run...

So last week I started running! For many different reasons, but I will just copy and paste the gist of my beginning that I wrote about in a forum on RunningAhead.com. (An amazing site for all runners, beginning to way advanced).

Hi! My name is Jenna and I am 23 yrs old and new to running! I played sports all my life and would consider myself a pretty athletic person, even though I have always hated running! Trying to keep a good workout regimen to stay in shape after having it mandatory daily in high school has been a very up and down road for me. I would go through periods during and after college where I would go to the gym consistently for a couple weeks to a month, and then would slowly go back to not working out at all. My goals for working out in the past have always been to lose weight, for I have had a constant struggle with weight issues all my life.

It has been in the past few weeks that I have really noticed all the people that I know that are "runners", how all of those people are people I look up to and are motivated by not only because of their running endurance, but because of how they look life, treat people, and mostly treat themselves. You can tell a major difference in those that are run on a consistant basis, and the thing is they are just people like you and me! You see the stories of people that were extremely obese and took up running and it completely changes their life. If they can do it, and the people I know personally can do it...then heck, why aren't I!

So after at that lengthy intro..I am going to do this! But I know myself and I know how have been in the past..extremely motivated for a short while and it fades. So my question to the "seasoned runners" is, how do you do it?!? How do you stay motivated to make it part of your life...for life?! What advice would you give a newbie like me to stick to it when I feel that 5 miles straight could never be in my future because I can't even run half that now!? I am super excited to start this life change, and appreciate and take in any and all encouragement I can get!

I got some amazing advice from people that have been running for years. Here a couple of my favorite pieces of advice:

1) If you are serious about this, you NEED to make this second nature. Once running is optional it is easy to skip it and say you are too busy. If you schedule your workout daily (and the timing can vary), then schedule your other stuff around it, it becomes an afterthought to do the workout and a part of your life. Otherwise it is just to easy to do what you've described happing in your pace, which is gradually phase it out. -Spaniel

Many people encouraged joining a running club, but for right now I have learned that I really enjoy running by myself. I get intimidated by those who run faster, and being last in a group because I am so new to running would discourage me rather than encourage me. I think it must be a personality flaw of my uber-competitiveness. People also encouraged me to start on a C25K program (Couch to 5K), but it starts off really slow, and it is all timed running vs walking...which I guess is good for some people..but I like to listen to my body, push myself when I can, and progress at my own pace. And so far that is working really well for me! I ran my 1st mile and half straight yesterday! The website has a running/training log that graphs and shows your progress. That really encourages me to see how much I have done by the end of the week, and to make sure I am updating it! I think there is a way to link it to my blog, so I am going to try and do that.

Ok, off from Running now... today in class I was in such admiration of one of my classmates. As I think I have blogged about, I am in school part-time again for web-design and 90% of the school are High School students that are bussed in. It is wierd being in this type of environment again, but I actually really enjoy it. Well there a couple kids, who honestly I think are hilarious most of the time...but then after 10 min later you are like oh my gosh shut up! haha. Well anyways, today they were joking about I guess some website and kept going "Buddy Christ, Buddy Christ", and this guy goes "Hey, how about you guys stop that seriously. It is offensive. I am up for all your other jokes, but seriously stop that". If it had been any other student, they probably would have made a joke about it, but this guy is a true example of what I think a Christian with impact on the world is. He is super nice to everyone, and doesn't push his views or constantly talk about it to where it is annoying to those who aren't Christian. By his attitude, demeanor, the way he treats people, and can relate to every single person in their own way, makes it to where there is no way you could not have complete respect for anything he says. I really admire the way he makes an impact for the Lord everyday without making anyone feel uncomfortable about it. I probably didn't get this story across as powerful as the moment was today, but it really made me an impact not only on me, but on the entire class..which I think is awesome.

P.S. I am super excited for Dallas this weekend! Yay!

Peace. Love. Visvas.