I love the song “If I Am.” It’s wonderful. I am listening to it right now.

Anyways. The point of this post:

So I’ve been having this reoccurring dream that I am running really fast and I never lose my breath. I’ve been having it for a few years now, and I’ve decided that maybe it’s trying to tell me something. Meanwhile, I was thinking the other day if I was ever hypothetically in a situation that required me to “run for help” I probably wouldn’t get very far. I’ve refused on multiple occasions to run for a bus, train, subway, etc. I missed the train to my first day of college that way, nearly 4 years ago.

I have had many excuses in my past of reasons I couldn’t be a runner. Arches in my feet are the number one culprit. They hurt from walking, and I figured that running would aggrevate them. That’s the reason I had to stop playing soccer my junior year of high school, after all.

But my arch issues are under control, and I do recall that sophomore year I would always lap my sister in cycles when we were sprinting. She’d always catch up to me in the jog, but hell I could sprint.

Meanwhile, I have come to realization that I don’t want to pay for a gym and I don’t want to spend time doing Pilates in my living room forever. I’ll never get into shape that way. What’s a girl to do. Then I thought…what about run?

Another story: About two years ago, my friend Laur and I were heading to Grand Central Station from Times Square. The run is less than a mile. I should have been able to handle it. I ran about half way before I had to stop–and as my friend Laur pushed me along, I thought I would die. Once we boarded the train, it took me about ten minutes to stop panting, and about a half hour before my lungs stopped hurting.

That’s pathetic. I should be able to run a mile. That is reasonable. Human bodies only last for so long, and I should at least give mine the benefit of being in good shape so if something else should go ary my body would be prepared to fight. Right?

So, guys, I’ve decided I am going to become a runner. I have a game plan, and I am going to do it.

Of course, I decided this three days ago. But then one day it rained, and then the next I got home at 8, after dark and very hungry.

So today, after work, I got home (early which was helpful) and began. I slipped on my Olympic shoes and my Olympic fanny pack (over the shoulder, of course) and started my training: 10 cycles, walk 2 minutes, run 1 minute. My body was very tense as I prepared to run that first minute. But I did it. And then I did another minute, and another. After 3 cycles, however, my lungs were on overload and I had to slow to a walk for a bit. For quite a long time. For 10 minutes, actually. After those 10, I finished strong by running/walking 3 more cycles. 6 cycles in total. That’s something.

[not me running. What I’d love to look like, though…]

Today, I ran for 6 minutes. I also probably only ran .6 miles. But the total travel was 2.14 miles. So I did something. I feel like I am getting somewhere. I’ve already made a playlist for tomorrow, and I am aiming for 8 cycles.

Here goes nothing.

How do you guys keep in shape? Anyone??