When I started running, I sought out advice from a number of friends who have run marathon after marathon. They all had different advice: ‘Eat more carbs’, ‘Stretch before AND after your workout’, ‘Don’t push yourself too hard’, ‘If you can’t talk while you’re running, you’re going too fast.’ While many of their points differed, they all seemed to agree on two things: “No matter how much you run, the first mile is always the hardest”, and “You WILL become addicted”.
So far, the first has proven to be true. Upon the first few blocks, my legs feel like they’re being forced to operate in a way they were never meant to. There is no rhythm, and certainly no grace associated with my movements. Keeping my arms tight at my sides in an effort not to whack fellow pedestrians, my legs look and feel completely out of sync. Sure enough however, after the first mile or so, my body seems to remember what it’s supposed to be doing. I slowly find my pace, and my aching muscles are no longer stiff. This is the moment where I actually start to enjoy the act of running. I’ll pump up my iPod to play something rhythmic and up-beat. If I’m starting to slow down, I’ll play my “pump-up” song. I’m embarrassed to admit that there’s no song that gets me going faster than Britney Spears’ ‘Womanizer’. Ick. There, I said it. Please feel free to laugh at me. I am. But all jokes aside, each hill seems that much more approachable with each verse: “Womanizer, woman-womanizer you’re a womanizer…”. There! I reached the top of the hill… pushing myself to keep going and trying not to focus on the burning sensation in my legs… “OH womanizer, OH! You’re a womanizer baby”. She may be a virtual train-wreck and the polar opposite of anything related to health or fitness, but that woman can get me moving!
As for becoming addicted… that is yet to be seen. I’m sure there’s some truth to it, but I’m certain it will be a long while before I’ll put “addicted” and “running” into the same sentence. Of course if Britney keeps popping out hits as rapidly as she has been, I may be eating my words sooner than expected... :)
So far, the first has proven to be true. Upon the first few blocks, my legs feel like they’re being forced to operate in a way they were never meant to. There is no rhythm, and certainly no grace associated with my movements. Keeping my arms tight at my sides in an effort not to whack fellow pedestrians, my legs look and feel completely out of sync. Sure enough however, after the first mile or so, my body seems to remember what it’s supposed to be doing. I slowly find my pace, and my aching muscles are no longer stiff. This is the moment where I actually start to enjoy the act of running. I’ll pump up my iPod to play something rhythmic and up-beat. If I’m starting to slow down, I’ll play my “pump-up” song. I’m embarrassed to admit that there’s no song that gets me going faster than Britney Spears’ ‘Womanizer’. Ick. There, I said it. Please feel free to laugh at me. I am. But all jokes aside, each hill seems that much more approachable with each verse: “Womanizer, woman-womanizer you’re a womanizer…”. There! I reached the top of the hill… pushing myself to keep going and trying not to focus on the burning sensation in my legs… “OH womanizer, OH! You’re a womanizer baby”. She may be a virtual train-wreck and the polar opposite of anything related to health or fitness, but that woman can get me moving!
As for becoming addicted… that is yet to be seen. I’m sure there’s some truth to it, but I’m certain it will be a long while before I’ll put “addicted” and “running” into the same sentence. Of course if Britney keeps popping out hits as rapidly as she has been, I may be eating my words sooner than expected... :)
Jenna Fischer also listens to Britney when she works out, so you're both okay in my book.
ReplyDelete