My love/hate relationship with running!

I am a runner. It is possible that I am using that term loosely, but I consider myself to be a runner. Not a professional runner. Not a daily runner. But, a runner just the same.

(Yes, my hair is green. It’s “spirit” people!)

I have not always been a runner. I remember not too many years ago joking with a friend at work that, if I were running, someone was probably chasing me. Also, I joked about hating sweat and anything that makes me sweat. That was totally true… at the time.

I started running only after having my second child. My weight was pretty much back to normal, but I needed something. Something healthy, something outside, something for me.

(Loving the solitude)

My beautiful sister has always been athletic, and a group of her very athletic friends started a running group. A breakfast club of sorts, where we would run on Saturday mornings and end with a nice breakfast or coffee. This is where my love affair with running began. Ok, maybe it was my love affair with Saturday morning breakfast with a really cool group of people. But, they didn’t let me go unless I ran. So I ran. I ran slowly. I walked quite a bit at first. But, I loved it.

(With my sis… told ya she’s beautiful)

Then, one fateful day, one of these friends brought up the Ragnar Relay. Have you heard of it? It is a team overnight relay running event. You can read all about my experience with it HERE. When we decided to do it, I decided that I had to get even more serious about training. I was getting ready to run my first half marathon at the same time. This is when I truly became a runner.

(Team French Toast Mafia at the finish)

Things I love about running:

~ No need for gym memberships or group classes. Just a (good) pair of sneakers, SPF, sunglasses, and water.
~ It can be an individual, team, or family event… or any combination of those.
~ It burns tons of calories. When I’m running regularly, I can eat pretty much anything and maintain my weight.
~ It slims and tones without adding too much bulk to muscles.
~ When I am running regularly, I just feel GOOD.

One frustration of running:

~ I got really busy this spring and ended up taking an (unintentional) hiatus for 3 weeks or so. When I started again, it felt like I was starting from scratch!

I am not saying that running is the only or best method of exercise, but it works for me. I love the individual as well as the social aspects.

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Tuesday’s Whole Foods Market Gift Card entry – go back to MONDAY’S POST, and leave a comment answering Tuesday’s question: What type of exercise do you enjoy most (or least), and why?

Remember, please answer the above question on MONDAY’S POST to be entered for the gift card (I’m disabling comments on today’s post because you have to answer this question in Monday’s comment area. Make sense?). You have until Friday to reply to each post during Health and Fitness week, and I will pick a winner (Random.org) on Saturday! Good luck, and go get fit!

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Don’t forget that Whole Foods in Scottsdale is having a fun event this Saturday, May 22. Felipe and Sione Fa, from Season 7 of “The Biggest Loser” will be at the store from 11AM to 3PM to share their tips for eating right and staying healthy.