Run, Forrest, run!

Today marks an epoch in my life.

I ran for six minutes.  In a row.  Without collapsing.

Yes, you read that right.  Not six miles, not sixty minutes.  Six.  Minutes.

I know to all you fitness-types that is laughable.  Six minutes is your warm up.  Six minutes is how long it takes you to run to the gym to actually begin your workout.  But for me - it's a big deal!

I have tried running many times, all without success.  Back in high school, my best friend and I "ran" on our school's fledgling cross country team.  We had to run a mile after school each day.   What I actually did was run a few seconds, walk, complain, run a few seconds more, wait for death to take me, and repeat.  I never did actually run the whole mile.  And I was super skinny back then!

Several times since, I have attempted to run again.  I tried the couch to 5K program on my ipod.  After several days, when the little voice in my earbuds told me to "begin running", I began thinking unkind thoughts toward running and exercise in general.

It is no secret that exercise, sweating and general fitness are Not My Thang.  But for the last eight or nine weeks, I have really integrated working out into my life.  Thrice a week I go to the Y for a class, and while I don't exactly anticipate it like I would, oh say, a plate of cheese fries, I don't exactly mind it.  It is just part of my week now.  And I can't tell you happy that makes me! Not only is my 40th birthday and my goal looming in the very near distance, I sincerely want to be in better shape.  I want to be able to hike and not bring up the rear - with or without a child near me as my excuse.

I don't think a marathon will ever be in my future, but by golly, I ran six minutes.  Maybe next time it will be ten.