Running: Out of my Comfort Zone

I am not a fan of running in general.  Honestly, I admire people who can just get out and run, but I’m not one of them. Not that I’m against all cardio, there are several activities that I actually enjoy. An hour of cycling? Sure. Kickboxing? All in. But running? Not so much. In fact I’ve always joked that if you see me running, you should probably run too…

Yet yesterday I went for a run. And not just a “run down the block” run, or even a sprint Tabata run, but a “run run”. Why? I was running for a cause.

I’m a part of the Hogwarts Running Club on Charity Miles and I use my app when I’m walking for the small donations it gives (and points to Ravenclaw!) and yesterday was the 9 3/4 K charity run for RODS, an organization that helps with the adoption of children with Downs Syndrome.

I almost didn’t do it. I “hem hem’d” (see what I did there?) and “hawed” about doing the run for at least a week and a half. No, I’m not a runner but since it’s a virtual race you don’t have to do it all at once, you don’t even have to do it all in one day, and technically you don’t even have to run the whole thing- walk all you want! Like I said, it’s a virtual race. (Confused? Here’s how it works)

But I woke up yesterday morning, and I knew I had to do it.  I paid my registration fee BEFORE arriving at the gym for my 6am client so I couldn’t change my mind. I and committed to doing the run, the whole run on that very day. After all, it was the suggested day to do the run in honor of the anniversary of Harry's first flying lesson and the day he became the Gryffindor seeker! (Maybe you didn’t believe me when I warned you before, but I’m a bit of a Harry Potter nerd…)

I’m in not entirely sure what possessed me to run over 6 miles the first time I’ve run in weeks. Come to think of it, I haven’t ran more than 1.5 miles in over a year (did I mention that I’m not a runner?).  And when I’m completely honest, I think the longest run I’ve ever completed was 5K... 4.5K LESS than what I committed to yesterday morning.

But I did it. It wasn’t perfect, and I didn’t run the whole time, but I did it. After the first 2 miles, I was feeling the fact that I hadn’t ran in quite a long time. I started to feel a slight ache in my right hip and my right ankle, and I knew that I haven’t been training for this type of physical activity, but I pushed on. I won’t give you a play by play, but it’s sufficient to say that after those first 2 miles I did a combination of running and walking. Even so, I finished the just over 6 mile run in one hour and seven minutes.

I wasn’t sure how I would feel today, the day after the race, other than sore (which I am!), but all day yesterday I couldn’t help but feel proud of myself. Proud of myself for doing something physically that is very outside my comfort zone. Proud of myself for supporting not one, but two charitable causes (my Charity Miles app was set to Stand Up to Cancer yesterday). But most of all, proud of myself for not giving up.

And who knows, I may even be looking forward to the next run just a little…  or not. ;)

Want to join me in making a difference while you move? Download the Charity Miles app and choose from a variety of different charities to support as you walk, run, dance, bike, or just move! Then, join The FRICKin Good Life team so we can see how much difference we can make!