leave the pushups, give me a run anyday

I'm watching The Biggest Loser right now. I often watch it and think that I'd love to train with Jillian Michaels for a month or so. Then I think about it. I could totally do the cardio stuff. It's all the swinging of the kettle bells and dragging the trainers around with ropes and swinging sledge hammers down onto tires that would slay me. Not that I'm not strong, but it's never been my focus. Last week I went to a boot camp class here in town. I rocked at the running on the spot, the butt-kicks, the jumping jacks. It's when we have to do 859 squats and 700 push ups that I find myself taking short breaks at waiting desperately to get back into the running and the jumping jacks and the skipping. Because I can do that stuff forever.

Push ups suck.

I ran 6 miles each day this past long weekend. On the third day I walked for a couple of minutes before the last mile, other than that I ran non-stop. I run through the red lights and intersections, I skip around the mountains of goose poop on the path. I stumble through my front door at the end winded and sweaty and feeling awesome. I started running again to lose the baby weight, but lately it's become more about how far I can run without taking a walk-break, and checking the clock before and after the run to see what my time is.

I've lost some weight, but not all. I'm still thicker than I want to be, I jiggle in places I don't want to jiggle.

But I'm loving what my body is doing lately. I hit the four mile mark and I'm not feeling like I'm on death's door. I feel comfortable as I jog along the crescent. I feel strong, healthy and capable. I'm feeling more like myself again after 9 months of being pregnant, and three months of feeling sluggish and tired.

If I just wanted to watch the scale drop I could cut calories and lay on the couch and watch tv, and sleep in until I absolutely had to wake up. I could watch the numbers move just the same. But I love how I feel when I work out, and how I feel after.

Each year I tell myself that I'm going to do the MB Half Marathon, but I'm kind of a chicken. I always get to where I can run more than six or so miles in a pretty decent time, and then I back down.

I'd love to do it this coming spring, even if I walked chunks of it.

If I could do it a few pounds lighter, that would just be gravy . . . or broccoli. Whatever.

Comments

Jen said…
I totally understand how you feel. I love what exercise does for my state of mind. I feel powerful. It's an amazing feeling.

You should do that half marathon. I bet you would rock your socks off.
Ange said…
I think you could totally do the half marathon! Just think of how awesome you'll feel when you cross the finish line! Go for it!
Q&L said…
Ya, go for the half, don't be such a chicken! hehehe

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