Running!

This is how I like to imagine I look when I run--pretty sure I don't!

When I was in 9th grade, I joined the track team.  Looking back I am not quite sure why as I didn't want to run and wasn't quite the shot put/discus thrower/jumper type.  I also hated the short shorts.  Hmmm...so why did I join?  Yeah, that's what I'm wondering, too.

Fast forward about 15 years...My wonderful husband takes up running, and I tell him that I will start running when I see someone running who looks like he/she is enjoying it.  I mean, seriously, have you ever seen someone running who is smiling and happy?  No, they all seem to look as if they are in pain!  Not the activity for me.

Well, last spring I decided I was getting a little tired of the elliptical and wanted to add something more to my routine.  Plus, my main motivation was that I'd be able to run races with Ryan and exercise anywhere.  When I first started, I kept thinking about how many more calories I could burn on the elliptical.  How sad is that.

Enter today: at MOPS I was talking with two separate people who called me a runner.  I was sort of taken aback by that.  Aren't runners people who run outside (as opposed to the hamster wheel treadmill) and do marathons and get "Runners World" and stuff?  Are people who run 3-4 miles 4-5x/week runners?  What I can say is that I have been injured and sick the past month and have been unable to run consistently and have (dare I say it??) missed it.  Eek!  I might just be a runner after all!  Take that 9th grade track with the short shorts I actually love to wear now!