Resolutions

Here we are again in January and let's just say I have become really good over the past couple months at making excuses for not making my fitness a priority. In search of motivation, I joined an online program called Run the Year 2017 at the gentle urging of my amazing sister. I signed up last night, determined to get myself moving and immediately the Universe started to conspire against me with the arrival of Central Texas winter and a most unwelcome monthly visitor. Well, welcome in the sense that it means I am not going to give birth again...unwelcome in every other sense. Anyway, after a night of restless sleep I woke up on Day 1 of my Run the Year 2017 feeling as though I hadn't eaten in a week and needed to put on three pairs of socks. A cup and 1/2 of coffee and a slice of cranberry pistachio toast later, I started thinking... 

Shoulder Potato on my right: "What are you doing? It is freezing out there! You are losing enough blood from your uterus to film a battle scene from Braveheart! You don't really have the right clothes for running in this weather. Stay here. It is warm. There is coffee. And snacks. And soft blankets. And Netflix. You are already 7 days behind...what's one more?" 

Shoulder Guru on my left: "You are already 7 days behind! Do you really want to look at that screen with the '0 miles toward your goal' message again? I don't think you do. No more excuses. No time like the present! Just Do It. Woman up! Make it so! Onward and upward. Go, you must. Si, se puede! Go forth and prosper! Friends don't lie...er...ok, that last one didn't really make sense, but I am running out of motivational pop culture references to whisper in your ear. Don't make me raise my voice."

Fine! I got up, put on my base layer and my hoodie, my warm fuzzy tights and my stretchy running pants, a super-duper XXL tampon and overnight pad for insurance, socks, running shoes, my second hand SAFD beanie hat (because creating an illusion in order to keep people from messing with you is an acceptable form of deceit, right?) and out the door I went. 

It was a glorious day, empty branches against bright blue skies. I headed away from the house...

Shoulder Potato: "You should just do laps around the block, that way you can stop if it is too cold or you get too tired or hungry."

Shoulder Guru: "Absolutely not. Walk to the duck pond...it is 1.5 miles away, so you will have to walk 1.5 miles back. That is at least 3 miles right there, and you can throw in a few laps around the pond for good measure."

Sigh. Ok. Duck pond. Go. 

I started at a jog, which soon turned to a fast walk. It really was a beautifully invigorating weather day and the roads were quiet. The pond was serene, the only company I had was a pair of Egyptian geese guarding their eggs and the grand old cypress trees guarding the water's edge. Inhale deeply, exhale slowly. This feels good. No more excuses.