Back in the Running Shoes Again!

Well, it’s been over two months since my last post and I haven't run much since mid-November. It just got too cold to run outside when all I had was one long sleeve cotton shirt and capris. Since I just started running last spring/summer, I didn't have the proper winter running gear and that stuff, as I found out, can be pretty pricey! And so are doctors!

Part of my reason for not running was because I was out of commission for a while, from just before Thanksgiving through New Years and a while after, with asthma/bronchitis/strep throat (and a few other medical things) and taking prednisone and antibiotics. I was told by my doctor not to run in the cold because it would exacerbate the lung problems.

However, I have kept up on reading everyone's blogs. I read about how you are all running in the freezing temperatures and loving it. I've seen the pictures of you happily running while it's snowing and I'm envious! I want to run outside all bundled up with the snow falling softly on and around me and hear nothing but my own breathing and footsteps.

But, I have to confess, once I was feeling better, I found it difficult to get going again and became a slug. I would occasionally jump on my treadmill and do a 30 minute walk/run session but just couldn’t get motivated to pick up my routine. That was my other reason for not running – lack of motivation.

Last night I was reading blogs and thought I would see what Michelle at Running With Attitude had been up to. She mentioned that Jeff at Detroit Runner (a blog I hadn't seen before) is putting on a virtual 5k. This peaked my interest so I clicked the link to his blog and read the details of his ‘I just felt like Running’ 5k race. I thought to myself  ‘I can do this. I’ve run a 5k before.’ I suddenly got the urge to get back into a running routine!

So this morning I took my first step to get back into the saddle of running and put on my running shoes. I hopped on the treadmill and did a slow paced 30 minute run/walk and an hour long exercise session with my sister. I have plenty of time to work back up to running 3.1 miles non-stop for the March 5th race day. Luckily, I haven’t lost all of the fitness I had achieved during the summer. It will be tough to do all my running inside, but now I have a goal and motivation.

The next time it snows, I think I’ll go for a nice walk and enjoy the snowflakes falling on and around me and listen to the quietness of my footsteps.