Chronicles of Running: Week 1 (from someone who is NOT a runner)

For some reason, unbeknownst to me, my wonderful husband and I decided that we would start running. People in Colorado are healthy and fit, so maybe we should try to be healthy and fit. People here like the outdoors, so let's start a running program with no gym membership. It will be ok that it's the middle of winter in the mountains of colorful Colorado. The scenery will be beautiful as we gasp for air at this new altitude where our bodies are not yet acclimated. Ok, that's all a bit extreme. But, seriously...I'm not really sure what we were thinking, or if thinking had any part at all in this decision. It's actually working out better that you might think. Here are some reasons why and also some comical happenings from my first week of C25K (couch to 5K).

One way I know we are adjusting to the climate and altitude of our new home is because when Brandon checks the weather, these are our determinants of whether or not it's a 'running day': the temperature must be in positive double-digits, it cannot be snow-ing (snow and ice on the ground makes no difference). That's about it. I realized this, suddenly, when we had been indoors for two days due to lots of snow-ing and below zero temperatures. The next morning, he looked at his weather app on his phone and said "Hey, it's going to be 29 degrees today. That's running weather!" Really? Since when?!

My first week of my program has consisted of alternating between walking and jogging. On my C25K debut, my first mistake was my sweat pants. They were too long and actually kept falling down while I ran, so this was a mistake I will not repeat. I now understand why real runners wear clothes that fit well, stay up and don't drag on the ground. Sweat pants are for lounging, not jogging. Blooper number two on my first workout: mistaking ice for water. Yep. I totally busted on the ice. Thankfully, it was during my walking time or it could've been much worse. I landed on my hip and elbow, but other than a little soreness, no damage done...except my pride. I quickly got up and looked around, though, and I don't think anyone saw it. Other than that, I survived the first run. It took me back to my high school days of getting in shape, feeling the burn in my muscles and lungs, but it felt good.

My second run was a vast improvement over the first. It was much easier with glorious sunny weather, although I definitely was still dancing around snow and ice...just more carefully. I didn't fall. I wore better suited clothing for the occasion. I did forget a headband and dealt with bangs in my eyes the entire time, so that was annoying. I also somehow ended up in the middle of school pick up for an elementary close by. I now know to avoid the cul de sac and street where, I now know, lots of parents park and wait to pick up their children around 3pm. The last thing I need, as I navigate this newfound adventure, is an audience.

Today was day 3, end of the first week of training. (There are eight weeks total.) Today was epic, and it's difficult to describe why. Maybe it's the Winter Olympics in Sochi or the fact that Rocky movies have been on for the past couple of days. Perhaps it was the heavy fog, temperatures in the 20's (felt like the teens), or the treacherous snow and ice I'm still navigating. I'm convinced it may never go away completely. I'm working on my playlist, and so my music still wasn't quite right, but I felt invincible. I loved the challenges that the trail presented and felt completely capable of overcoming them. I don't really plan out my path, but I just go and know I will eventually make my way back home. Today I ended up on a wide trail that had back yard fences on one side and a big wide ditch with quite a bit of brush on the other. I was feeling good, finishing up my workout, when I saw what looked like cat paw prints in the snow. Then, I saw different prints...bigger. I began to look more carefully and suspiciously at the thick brush for signs of wildlife. I mentally prepared for what I would do if charged by a mountain lion or some other wild animal. Now, as I write about it, I can laugh and know how ridiculous it sounds, but all of the sudden I wasn't feeling quite so invincible anymore. I was, however, feeling like I could probably run faster at the end of my workout than I ever dreamed I could.

So, in summation of my first week of 'running', if you can call it that, I already have a handful of lessons I'm learning. I am really beginning to understand why our lives can be compared to running a race in the Bible. The scripture that Calvin and I have been memorizing is found in Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witness, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." I'm learning that there are countless parallels we can draw that apply to running and life. We must be prepared. When we fall, we must get back up again and keep going, even if it hurts. We can't make excuses, because there will always be 'reasons' to not do the hard stuff. There will be obstacles, and in order to maneuver them, a different route may be required, so be flexible. (This is not easy for me...at all.) There will be days when we feel inspired, and those are moments to be embraced. But during the times when we don't 'feel' particularly ecstatic, we must continue to persevere so we can gain the reward at the end. Even if we finish a run, or a day, and it looks sloppy and didn't turn out at all like we planned, we can say we finished. Then, we get a new chance to try again. I'm so thankful for fresh starts, new mercies and second chances. When I see ALL of the white snow, I can't help but think of God's grace and how it beautifully covers the ugliness of my sin and breathe a huge sigh of relief. He's definitely doing something new in me, and I'm full of gratitude.