We’ve started a new habit on the weekends. I get up and run on the walking path from our town to the neighboring town, about 3 miles away. There, Jim picks me up and we go out to breakfast. It’s like my own private 5K race each weekend.

This weekend, Jim was working and so I ran three miles to the next town over, rested for 10 minutes and drank some water, and then went back home, running part of the way and walking much of it. Knowing that Jim wouldn’t be there to pick me up, I could have shortened my run to 1.5 miles and then headed back home, still running 3 miles in total. But I didn’t want to do that. I needed the challenge. I needed to continue the weekend routine of running from one town to the next.

One thing I discovered on the way back home is that it seemed like running was actually less tiring than walking. This surprised me but it was a pleasant surprise. I also noticed how I love how my body feels when I’m in motion. I actually noticed that earlier this week in my Cardio Kickboxing class. That class adds in balance to the motion – you have to have balance to raise your leg and kick. I think that’s when I first noticed that I enjoyed feeling my body in motion. Today I enjoyed the feeling again on my run.

Not to mention that running for me is a stress reliever. Whatever my worries are, I can run them out. When I’m finished running, I’m too tired to feel anxious.

I also challenged myself today in the strategy for my run. I decided to run for 3 minutes and walk for 1 minute. (Last weekend I ran for 2 minutes and walked for 1 minute). Near the end (when I was almost to the next town) I ran for 3 minutes and walked for 2 minutes. On the way back, between several stretches of walking, I ran for 2 minutes and walked for 2 mintues. My entire route today was about 6 miles. Although the second half of it was mostly walking, and I had a 10 minute break in between, I felt like it was a step toward running for longer distances than 3 or 4 miles. Slowly I can piece together longer runs.

I absolutely love having something like running to work on. It is so satisfying to me to start on something and watch it grow – watch my endurance grow, and the distance I can go, etc. It makes me feel like I’m making progress in my life, and that makes me feel that I’m thriving.