I don't like to run. I like to HAVE run. :-)

Thanks to my friend and encourager, Brandice of www.fitnessinfusiononline.com for the title of this entry.  :-)

Okay, I did it.  I got out and jogged anyway.  (I've noticed that when I'm excited I use the word run.  When I'm not or when I'm discouraged I use the word jog.)  At least I'm not just walking anymore.  ;-)

So I set out thinking I would have to take it step by step, which was going to be fine.  I noticed right away that I felt slower.  At least I was moving at more than a walking pace.  I felt sluggish but I kept pushing through.  I got to 1/2 mile and checked my time - about 7 minutes, which would put me at 14 minutes for the first mile.  Yuck!  I've been doing mile 1 in 10 minutes.  Well, at least I was moving at more than a walking pace.  Mile 1 ended up being 13 minutes and 15 seconds!  Woohoo!  I must've picked up some speed in the second 1/2 mile! 

Slogging through mile 2.  At one point I actually thought about lying down on the living room floor when I was done and having a temper tantrum.  Yeah, I can't picture it either.  I don't have tantrums.  I've never behaved like that.  Sure, I get frustrated sometimes but I don't throw myself down kicking and screaming.  This turned into a conversation with God.  He confirmed that, no, I don't behave like that, but I still have pity parties.  He pointed out that I was having one right then.  I cried out for help.  I didn't want to have a pity party.  Or maybe I did.  Sigh. 

Then I turned a corner, literally and figuratively. 

As I turned a corner and headed west, I ran smack into the full moon, still shining brightly even though the sun was coming up and the sky around the moon wasn't dark anymore so there was much less contrast between the moon and its surroundings. 



I already knew but was reminded that the moon has no light of its own.  The light it appears to have [here come the tears as I type] is only what is reflected from the sun (Son).   I stared at the moon and contemplated that until the 1-1/2-mile mark when I had to turn another corner.  I continued that mile, occasionally adding sprints, and finished it in 12:38, 37 seconds faster than I had anticipated based on my 1-mile time! 

Okay, into the 3rd mile and happy.  Y'know, I'm not taking it step by step.  I'm not telling myself I just have to make it to the next tree or to the end of this section then I can stop.  I'm just running.  Or jogging.  Or slogging.  At least I'm not just walking.  Or home sitting.  Or home sleeping. 

I finished the 3 miles in 39:15, averaging 13:05 per mile.  More importantly, though, I finished the 3 miles.  And I finished it with some wisdom from God to ponder and incorporate into my heart and to share with you.