How To Run

I DID IT!
After a good 11 or 12 weeks, tonight I reached my goal of running 3 miles (or the approximate equivalent of 5 kilometers, for my plethora of foreign readers).

I have a few people to thank:
Jesus Christ, who was my strength, and a huge encouragement, especially on my solitary runs.
My mother, for being truly inspirational in her running (and life) accomplishments. If I had to pick one person I would want to be like (besides Jesus, obviously), it would be her.
Gavin, who finally got me motivated enough to start this thing again.

So now, as an accomplished "athlete" (heehee), I hereby take it upon myself to help you to follow in my footsteps of healthy living.

A. Body
- Two legs, attached to which are two feet. This is the main mode of transportation.
- At least one lung, because you will find that you will desperately need it/them.
- Eyes, to see where you're going so you don't run into a lake or giant whole, or into a tree.
- A brain, because you really need something to keep you occupied while you run.
- A stomach. Which leads us to our next section...

B. Nutrition
- Water is very important, because if you don't drink it you will have cramps and a dry mouth and you will feel like death.
- Healthy food, because too much sugar before you run feels like vomit.
- Muscle Milk, because after you run and you drink it, you feel like a superhero, and also because the nutrition facts will blow your mind with goodness. And it is delicious. But only buy it with your flex dollars, because it is too expensive for real money.

C. Plan
- Start with a long-term goal and a short-term goal. But, as my mom always said, "Know Your Body." If you feel like keeling over, it's okay to walk for a while even if that was not part of your short-term goal. Also, From Couch to 5K is a 9-week program, and it took me more like 12 weeks to complete it. But the thing that matters is that I reached my goal. (This step was a huge thing for me, because I am not a goal-setter. At all. I float through life because I really just don't know how to set goals. I can't say "Okay, all straight A's this semester!" and then just do it. So I try my best and whatever happens in the end works for me. This is not how you should go about running. Set goals.)
-Plan to make the final stretch of your run a sprint. You will feel more accomplished when you finished, and also your endorphins are all like PING PING PING and your brain feels like a pinball machine and life is temporarily purely wonderful.

D. Spirituality
- "Dear Jesus, don't let me throw up."
- "Dear Jesus, I would feel so much better if I threw up now..."
- "Dear Jesus, please just get me through this next lap."
- "Dear Jesus, please send someone to help me if I pass out with exhaustion."
- "Dear Jesus, please don't let the creepy old man walking laps on the track rape me."
- "Dear Jesus, why am I doing this again?"
- "Dear Jesus, THANK YOU. We did it!"

So, if you have these things, you are ready to begin a life of running bliss. It is painful at times, but in the long run feels a heck of a lot better than sitting on your butt forever.

Why I choose to do it: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body..."


God bless