Running for a purpose

Can you tell my favorite color is pink?

My friend from work, Kiki, convinced me to run a 10k with her in August. I wish someone took a picture of my confused face when I initially received her invite through a Twitter message. In fact, I was convinced she had tweeted at the wrong person because let’s be serious…I couldn’t fool anyone that I was a “runner!” However, after a great convo with my colleague and friend which included a reminder that we had completed a 5k together in fall 2011, I decided I would commit. I’d heard great reviews about Hal Hagon’s training program so I printed the schedule and taped it on my refrigerator door. Also, I should add that I whispered to myself “What the heck did I just get myself into!?”

The first few days of training weren’t too bad because I have been going to the gym consistently for the past few years. However, I am not going to lie and say that I make it every day because sometimes the alarm clock is not my best friend when it goes off every morning at 5:00A. Also, the weather has been so ridiculously hot and I have been very tempted to stay inside my air-conditioned apartment rather than hit up the hot, big city streets. Side note: I realize that I have been complaining about the heat a lot lately, but I think these two pictures give (some) justice to my (first world) problems.

I didn’t want to go to the gym but I knew that I had no choice because Hal said I had to do a 2 mile run + strength today. Let me tell you, the hardest part of my workout is forcing myself to get out of bed/off the coach and putting my gym shoes on. Once I get past this step, the rest is a breeze.

This is a bit embarrassing to admit but I can’t help but smile when the desk worker at the gym greets me when I swipe my membership card. I can always expect that certain people will always be there and through this indirect way of knowing one another, I truly feel a sense of community.

Today, my workout was especially rewarding because I noticed that there was a good amount of people who were signing a new member contract. As I was sweating and listening to my jams, I started to question what everyone’s reason for working out is. Is it because they want to lose the freshmen 15 or post pregnancy baby lbs.? Or… are they a victim of the negative images society portrays about what it means to be beautiful and they are convinced that if they lose an extra 5 lbs. they will land a date with their dream boy or girl? Or…better yet, were they inspired by an episode of “Biggest Loser” and now have the courage to start their weight-loss/better lifestyle journey? There are so many possibilities but the important thing to remember is that everyone at the gym is “running” for a purpose.

Are you curious to know what my purpose is? Even if you aren’t, please humor me and listen. I mean you have already ready read quite a bit of this blog post ;).

The reason I make it a priority to workout is that I believe all of our actions and decisions have consequences. If you want to look good and FEEL good, you must get up and get going. Also, I don’t want to end up in a hospital bed one day because I didn’t understand the importance of living a better lifestyle because it is an investment in my future.  I refuse to be the old(er) woman who is staring at the ceiling and saying to herself “Gosh, I wish I would have taken better care of myself back in the days.” With that in mind, I am going to continue to push myself to get out of bed and run with purpose.