So... for the past two days I have been attempting to run again. I LOVE running! I love the sweat that only comes with a good run. I love the feel of my heart pumping in my chest and my lungs working overtime. L.O.V.E.
Now.. my feet sometimes object. I have tried to get back to running on many occasions... My feet rebel. They don't like it.
Is the endorphin rush that I get from running worth it? Yes... sometimes...
I think my problem has always been that I want to run the way I USED to... and I can't.
BUT...
I CAN run in one or two minute intervals.
I CAN get on the treadmill and not judge my success by the distance I ran, but by the sweat I worked up.
I CAN be OK with only 20 or 25 minutes on the treadmill and not an hour or more.
I CAN run... not a 5K... not a marathon... but a quarter mile... and be proud of that.
Running a 12 minute mile is still running!!!
I am done feeling like I can't run only because I can't run long distances or for a very long time or for very fast. I love how it feels to run.
I don't love how it feels to have pain in my feet.
There is definitely a happy medium and I am going to find it. I will not feel bad about myself when I read about how much running everyone else is doing.
I am a runner.
I get on my treadmill - or go to the park - and I run.
I refuse to define being a runner by how much or how far or how fast I run.
I have always been a runner.
I still am.
I run... that makes me a runner.