Those ol' running shoes

Sunday, I really felt this need to be active. Well, not "really" but just a feeling. :) I wanted to go to the new rec center that the city of Chandler built but I was feeling a little lazy. Sooo...as I was lying in bed trying to take my mid-morning nap (11am naps are the best!) I suddenly felt inspired to go running!

I used to do long distance running in Dubai and a little bit in College. I was never really good at sports until when I was about 16. I remember the day I figured out that these legs of mine had a secret to share. It was our weekly PE time and our PE teacher decided we would be doing cross country. It was about 2.5 km on a dusty trail outside the school grounds. I remember that it was hot but living in Dubai -that wasn't new news. I began running beside a friend of mine but 3 minutes in my friend was slowing down and I kept on going. 2.5 km later I finished third out of about 25 girls. Third place in a sport - that was a big deal for me!! It was such a surprise to my friends that one of them went as far as accusing me that I had cheated and cut a corner! I forgave her - after all we were only a mere 16.

Anyway after that experience, I got in to the running thing. I even trained once to do a half marathon. My best ever was a 9 minute mile! Once I reached that (about 2 months before the half marathon) I decided that that was good enough and I had reached my goal of being a "runner". Unfortunately after I reached that goal I stopped running altogether. Wah-wah-wah.

So Sunday was terrific! I chose to run around a lake near the house. It's peaceful there and I love saying hi to the ducks and turtles that reside there. The weather was beautiful - cool and warm at the same time. It probably wasn't a long run - I forced myself to not time it - but definitely enough to make my thighs cry in pain the next morning. The best part of the run was feeling that certain "high" that you can only obtain after a good run. Not sure how to describe it but it's an awesome feeling!!

So I'm hoping that I will feel inspired again to go running. My right knee has been bothering me for a couple months so I should be careful but with a brace I should likely be fine. And if I keep up with the running, maybe I'll be deserving of a new pair of running shoes. Weeeeee!!!!