I Ran A Mile....Again

So here's how I figure it....if I'm going to work my patutti off exercising then I should probably keep some kind of record of it.  Mostly for a sense of accomplishment I think.  At the beginning of last week, my goal was to work on my running seeing as I have absolutely loathed the concept since time immemorial.  Of course the reinforcement of doctors saying I shouldn't run due to my leg length differential only served the purpose of supporting my decision to maintain a moderate pace as I moved through life.  However, since I've been on this whole fitness kick, it has been my wish to see if I could train myself to run.  Tom is forever telling me that once I run a mile, two will feel easy.  My question was always, "But what if you can't even run one.  I mean, it's so far." Only truly out-of-shape persons like myself will understand a question like this.  The fitness freaks who can jump on a treadmill, throw some headphones in their ears and run seemingly endless distances will have no concept of that which I speak.  All power to those types in the world as you all give us something to aspire to.  I'm the sorry ass who jumps on the treadmill with lofty intentions only to find herself desperately gasping for breath and barely managing to hold on to the rails (oh, did I mention you're not supposed to hang on to the rails... you get 20% less effectiveness that way.) after a quarter of a mile.  Sad really.

Tom and I started working out at the gym approximately 8 months ago.  The whole thing has been hit and miss commitment-wise.  We would do really good for three weeks and be super consistent, then life would happen and we'd stop going for a period of time.  There following we would go at it again and follow some super diet plan then it would all fall apart again after three weeks or so.  I even managed to run a mile with only one brief  stop in there somewhere, but didn't workout for two weeks afterward.  It was a pretty crazy cycle.  Then Christmas happened and the new year came.  I did not make any conscious New Year's Resolution.  It honestly just worked out that way.  The last week of December came and I started working out 3-6 times every week and I have maintained that pace ever since.  I think I have safely passed the three-week bane (fingers-crossed).  Finally today, after many aches and pains and every joint slowly adapting to the pain of pounding feet, I ran a mile.  Straight.  Without stopping.  I didn't pass out and I didn't have to desperately grab onto the rails for dear life.  In fact, I went on to complete a 5k and I probably ran 2 miles of it intermittently.  So for all you super runner freaks who run 6 minute miles, congrats to you and seriously, you're an inspiration.  But from the girl who couldn't finish a lap not too long ago, I ran a mile in 10 minutes and I'm damn proud!