9 weeks I set a goal...

9 weeks ago I set a goal.....

Run 3 times a week.

Nothing major. 2 miles.

Then a few weeks ago I hit a wall. I struggled through each run. I started to dread running. I hated setting that 5am alarm. I began to think "Why am I doing this? I am not a runner. You knew this, Heather. Why did you trick yourself into thinking you could become one?"

Once those negative thoughts invaded my brain it was downhill from there. I swear each run was worse than the one before.

My runner friends have told me that to be a "runner" you just have to RUN. Time and distance do not matter.

So I took a break....well I guess you could call it avoidance or excuses. I gave in to the excuses. I even bailed on my running partner on Tuesday. I texted her at 5:30am and said I wasn't coming.

My partner texted me last night. "Are we running in the morning?" Every bone in my body wanted to say NO! But my guilt set in. I'd had made a commitment. I cannot leave her high and dry. I decided to set my alarm. Maybe I would just walk (remember my brain was telling that I'm not a runner).

My alarm went off and the dread set in. Another run to struggle with....through....

Then I had a thought. I wanted today to be different. I wanted to run. Even if only for 1 mile, I wanted to run.

I usually do not run with music when I meet up with my friend. Today I put on my 80s Cardio Pandora Station and I ran. I stopped thinking and I just ran.

I hit one mile. This is the point where I usually would stop and walk. Today I continued to run.

I'll admit at about the 1.5 mile mark, my head started thinking again but I didn't let it stop me.

Today I AM A RUNNER.
Tomorrow I AM A RUNNER.

I am a runner because I run.