I just started up running again. I was motivated by reading in Jeff Galloway's Book on Running 2ed. He gives you permission to not go out there and kill yourself. He tells you to take it easy and ease your way into so you don't injure yourself.
After my pregnancy related health issues and getting over that it has been about 2 years since I really went on a good run. So 2 1/2 months after Alison's birth I started going back to yoga. I had to get my balance back. Then I started going on short walks - about 15 minutes at a time. I continued doing yoga and started walking longer. A month ago I did an hour long walk and realized I could do it. There was hope!
I find that I think if I can't do something perfectly then I shouldn't attempt it all all. But I am learning that doing a little is better than doing nothing. And then I saw this quote today:
In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing,
the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is
nothing. - Theodore Roosevelt
Even doing something wrong gets in you in the frame of mind of doing SOMEthing instead of just putting it all off.
So today, following Jeff's advice, I took it easy. Set my watch for a 4 minute 1 minute interval cycle and headed out into the crisp fall morning (perfect running weather). I walked the first 4 and ran 1. That one minute seemed so short. I kept checking my watch during the 4 minutes thinking it was too long. But I kept reminding myself slow and steady gets you there. I did add an extra 10 minutes to the 30 he reccomends starting out with. But it felt GREAT!! I did it! So for a week I will do this and then decrease the walking and increase the running little by little until I can run the whole time!
Exercise really does get you going! Simple physics. A body at rest tends to stay at rest - a body in motion stays in motion.
