Early Morning Runs.

Early mornings.

VERY early mornings.

My alarm goes off at 5:30 in the morning and the treadmill calls my name. 

Some days I just want to pull the covers back up over my head and fall back to sleep like the rest of my family....but I made a commitment and I'm sticking to it.

I sit up, rub the sleep out of my eyes, and pull on my running shoes.  

I tiptoe down the stairs careful not to wake a soul.

This is my time with me. 

I'm not a wife.

I'm not a mommy.

I am a runner....and only a runner.

I stretch.

I do a few jumping jacks to get my blood moving.

Then I step on the treadmill and begin running.

Some days my run seems easy.  I am breathing good.  I feel good.

Some days I feel like I have cement boulders tied to my feet.  My breathing is off.  I struggle....but I force myself to push through.  On these days I tell myself over and over and over, "Your mind is giving up, but your body is just fine."

Mind over matter.

Keep going.

Keep going.

Keep going.

Sometimes I finish my run and I feel relieved.  

Relieved that I finished.  

Relived that I pushed through and accomplished my goal.

Sometimes I finish my run and I feel energized.

On days like that I often do an extra 1/4 mile.

I call it my Victory Lap.

"Take THAT!" is what plays in my head.

I add a few punches into the air to really make my point.

Those are good days.

I am learning to like the early morning....and I'm learning to love running.

"You will never find time for anything.  If you want time, you must make it"

--Charles Buxton