Fun Run

Last year, I started running. I went from couch to 5K in oh, two weeks. Yep. Sure did. And those of you who know me know this is no small feat, as I am not, to say the least, physically fit. But one day, I woke up, went for a quarter mile run and thought, "I can do this." The next day, I ran a mile, and two weeks later, I ran my first 5K. I then proceeded to run at least one "official" 5K a month, from December to March, with shorter "training" runs in between. After March, however, I took a break. Or got lazy. It's really a matter of perspective, don't ya' think? Before I knew it, my break rolled into summer and then my excuse for not running was a whiney, "It's TOO HOT!!" Well, duh! I live in Texas. Of course it's hot.

Finally out of excuses and feeling like a complete slug, I decided to hit the pavement again. First time I went out I realized just how quickly I'd lost the little conditioning I'd built up last winter. Barely surviving a two mile run, and huffing and puffing like I'd just scaled Mt. Everest, I realized I was going to have to begin a more formal training program, especially if I ever wanted to run a race longer than 5K.

Enter, C25K, a nifty little app that lives on my iPhone. My own personal coach for training for a 5K, the right way. I'm on the third successful week of training, and determined to get through the whole program.

Today, I leashed the dog and headed out for my run. A nice, misty rain was falling and the temperatures had cooled to delightful levels. I knew it was going to be a good run. My dog, I suspect, did not share my excitement. She's not one for getting wet, even when it feels great. But it was an easy light rain, and we set out to "get. it. done." (borrowed from my friend, April!)

Little did I know this was heading my way:

The scheduled run was 28 minutes, but about 21 minutes into it, the skies opened and torrential rains were poured down on me and my poor pooch. Within about 5 seconds, we were both soaked to the skin, and about a minute later, soaked to the bone. Already sopping wet, I figured there was no sense in cutting the run short, so we made our way around our course and finished the run in the downpour.

Sounds crazy, right? Here's the thing. It was wonderful! My makeup completely washed off by the rain, mascara streaking off with each footfall, I knew I looked a mess. But I couldn't bring myself to care. I had a huge grin plastered on my face and can't recall the last time I felt so good.


Running is liberating. It frees me from, well, pretty much everything. The road doesn't care how I look, what I'm wearing, whether I'm in a good mood or not. All I have to do when I set out to run is, run.


There is something amazingly beautiful about this. Simple. Cleansing. Satisfying. I pray I am granted more runs like today's. Hands down, it was my funnest run to date.


Here's to running, rain or shine!

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