My running year

I have not blogged here for a while and am going to start again, today. My blogs from a few years ago, not well subscribed luckily were largely about my emotional life. Some were embarrassingly soul wrenching and I deleted them all when I changed jobs 2 years ago. I suppose my new blogs will be much the same, and thus I can't see anyone following it. This is for me, and why publish it? Well, why not? I like to write. It is healthy for me and I have missed this forum.

This entry is about my intention to start running again. I will start today, largely following the Runner's World programme for beginners. www.runnersworld.com I followed this before, in fact 12 years ago. I lost about 3 stone, my stomach (always a jelly) tightened up, I felt GREAT and loved it.

I was never a strong runner, and never did any marathons. I suppose I ran for less than one calendar year in the end-- I was in love with a man who ran, and only ran with him once (long distance and doomed romance) but he was from afar a tremendous encouragement. I let myself stop for a couple of weeks and that was the end of that--about that time it was the end of us too! I never started running again, and have always regretted it. I am now 12 years older, and a couple stone fatter. I am also a new diabetic and I need more than ever to embrace more exercise in my life. I know I will not use a gym membership, not gym-phobic, just know I will find excuses not to--not really me though that may change in the future. They are also expensive. I need the fresh air more. I need to walk more and I need the endorphins from even the lamest run. And me-I'm no athlete. My running arena--to start will be Gatton Road, Wray Common and environs of Reigate, Surrey and Reigate's Priory Park.

I have a little clipping in my desk which spurred me on 12 years ago and will spur me on now:-

"Running is a state of mind. The only thing that determines your success, or lack of success, is the way you think about your running. If it works for you - if it relieves stress, burns calories, gives you time to yourself, enhances your self-esteem, then it doesn't matter what any other person or any stopwatch says about your running"

Happy Christmas and New Year! xJ