Getting Back on the Horse

I can't believe it's been over 3 months since I regularly exercised. I was getting so stressed out with my thesis writing and other responsibilities. Usually, exercising helps reduce my stress, but my perfectionism and dedication draws can sometimes create more stress. When I realized that my dedication to exercising began to cross the line of reducing stress to increasing stress, I stopped.

Now, my thesis is done! And the holiday is over, which means that I am feeling really out of shape! My New Year's resolution?: Whatever habits I attempt to make this year, I am conscious and careful not to become obsessive about them. What this means for exercising is that if I'm limited on time, or really do not feel like exercising on a given day, or injured(!), then I don't exercise. That second qualification is difficult, because what non-athlete ever gets up in the morning and says, "Gee whiz, I can't wait to exercise this morning!"

This morning, I started out the New Year with my 3-mile circuit run in St. Paul. Baxter came with me, and although it's been over 3 months since I've run with him, he remembered the route exactly, and really had a great time (after getting the hang of running in his little snow slippers). On New Year's Eve, I'll remind/inform you that it began to rain, and as the countdown drew closer, it began to snow, meaning that roads would be covered in frozen rain. So although it was icy during my run, I saw this as a good thing. I was forced to run at a slower pace, or run on snow-covered grass rather than running paths and roads. Knowing myself, I could have easily pushed myself too far on the run if it weren't for this icy physical limitation.

It was freezing too! So, the next time I run, I think it will be on a treadmill!


Pain Tracker:

• The bottoms of my feet hurt during and after the run. My old friend, plantar fasciitis. I need to take it easy, and try running more on the balls of my feet.