My friend, Amy Stewart once posted about the importance of thinking, "I get to run" versus the abysmal, "I have to run". It's a concept that has stuck with me ever since. I realized I have always thought the latter about running. Maybe I'd get a wild hair every once in a while and WANT to run, but it was the exception, not the rule.
It wasn't an easy task, reconditioning my thoughts about running, but I was up for the challenge. After months of rainy, dark evenings (a situation not conducive to motivation), I have found myself in the perfect storm of convenience. It is light after work now, the park where I run is interesting and challenging, I am actually home for a long stretch of time, and I am motivated to get in better shape for the summer.
I've run 5 times in the last 7 days and feel great. While I don't think I've run more than a 5k, I find myself energized and able to run farther with each attempt. There is a 1/2 Marathon in Rabat the first weekend in April. While I know I will not be ready to attempt such a feat, I may run/walk it. Having a goal will help motivate me to continuously improve until then, and hey, I'll get a t-shirt out of the deal.
