Lisa

I know today is weigh-in day.

I weigh the same as last week and in reality, I am happy about that, given the Halloween party this weekend, the drinking and the eating.  Tracking points has been non-existent in this household.

So yeah, I weigh the same as I did last week- 171 lbs.

However, my last 3 training runs have been most wonderful.  They consist of:  5 minute jog warm-up, 3-5 minute stretch, 35 minute run, 3 minute cool-down and stretching again.

Back that up….a 35 minute RUN.  I cannot believe I am even typing that.  My last 3 runs have me RUNNING for 35 minutes straight and that is pure awesome-ness.  At least, it is to me.  I am finding that the first half of my run is eh, OK, but the second half of my run is awesome.  It is during that second half that my body is finally WARMED UP, my breathing is under control, the music on my iPod is the best, my second wind kicks in, my pace picks up and I truly feel like a runner.  I feel like I could run forever.

Today, during that second wind, my thoughts turned to WHY I am running.  Health? To get fit? To tone up my body?  To shed some pounds?  Yes, yes, yes and yes.  BUT, I realized the biggest reason I am enjoying this so much is that I AM DOING IT FOR ME.

FOR ME.  FOR ME.  FOR ME.

All day long, month after month, year after year, I have been doing things for others.  My children, my husband, what others expected of me or what I thought someone else wanted me to do.  This running, I am doing it FOR ME, and for me alone.

I have been giving of myself to others for so long.  I am now giving back to myself.

IT FEELS AWESOME.