Things actually get do get easier, it’s not just a lie they tell you to make you feel better. It’s far too early to call my run/walking (rulking?) a habit but I’m well on my way. Slowly but surely it’s becoming something I have to do before I go to bed. Because I know I have to do it, I don’t spend any time convincing myself of it; it’s just a matter of when. We were ordering Chinese food for a late dinner (I made sure to order lots of vegetables), so it was a late evening rulk, completed with a belly full of food.

It was my best rulk yet: I ran for longer distances than before and felt a little less winded and a little more capable. It still hurt and left me panting like I had run a marathon (you know, the 50 foot marathon), but I was better at telling myself “yes it hurts but just a little longer, you’re almost there”. Even without my sister I managed to keep myself motivated. The weather was perfect: a bit of a breeze and well above zero degrees Celsius.

Let’s talk running gear for a minute and how stylish I am: since it’s just my neighbourhood, and I’m a slob, I’ve been wearing my old sweatpants—one pair is old lady beige, the other a mint green. Both were both for lounging around at home. I figure the darkness prevents people from seeing their true colour anyway, so I’m safe. I’m not yet ready for fancy schmancy sweat wicking garments—I’ll save those for my coworkers who have earned the right to wear them. I quickly get overheated while running but I’m afraid of misgauging the weather and freezing while I’m out, so I overdo it on my top layers:

• t-shirt, short sleeved
• sweatshirt or hooded zip up
• very lightweight windbreaker
• slightly puffy vest

Today I had to take off the windbreaker while running, but I think it’s an important layer to bring along in case the weather is wet. I’d remove the second layer but I don’t like wearing the windbreaker over something that isn’t long-sleeved. Perhaps I can replace the t-shirt with a long sleeved version and ditch the second layer entirely. Problem solved.

Tomorrow is the work run/walk group. We have three levels of runners/walkers at work. The beginners are new to both walking (briskly) and running. They are visibly overweight. This is my group, although not for long! The second group ran irregularly during the summer and is in generally good physical shape. The final group is the marathoners who have been doing this for years and view running as a need, not a want (freaks). I’m looking forward to an easy day of walking.

Filed under: NaBloPoMo, Operation 5K by jummy