"Run Forest Run!"

I have finally done what I said I would NEVER do. RUN.... "what?!" you say? Yes, Minnie ran! I'm in awe of that short little sentence myself.  Never in a million years would I think my name would be linked with a sentence that had run in it. Unless, of course, it was talking about a run in my pantyhose or my nose on any given day.

Back in the day, (you know, WAY BACK) I dated a runner. He was (and still is) an avid, excellent, award winning runner. He loves running. He runs, I'm sure, everyday. I've seen pictures on facebook. After all these years, that boy is STILL running. I'm sure he has put in more miles than Forest Gump. Me, on the other hand, couldn't even add up all the running I've done from childhood til now and make it to the end of the street. Well, maybe the end of the street but that's pushing it. I would run/walk the little "fun" runs whenever he would enter a race but I found nothing FUN about it.

My sister has been doing Run For God for over a year now. My next door neighbor has just had her third child and she is starting Run For God. I had the pleasure of working with my daughter on the Run for Ringgold. Now she wants me to run the warrior dash with her. I've had one of our radiologist encourage/challenge me to run. What's with all this running? Are they giving away money at the end of  "the run"? Maybe giving away nonfattening coca colas? That's the only two things I can think of worth running for.

Everyone I spoken with that runs tell me it is an escape. You can escape the world for however long you run. While I would love to escape, I hope someone in that world is watching because when I fall out I need someone to be there to pick my old skinny butt up and get me out of the road! Escapism is kind of like alcoholism isn't it? You drink to escape....you run to escape.... just saying. Some people drink because they enjoy it and some people run because they enjoy it..... hmmm. When you sober up the problems you were trying to escape from are still there and when I run and get back to the house, those bills are still waiting to be paid. I've escaped NOTHING! See...doesn't sound to appealing does it?

Yet, I have excepted the challenge. "Try it" I'm told, "give it a chance" they say, "it is great cardio" per the exercise physiologist, "get a partner" says an avid runner, "put in your ipod" the doc says. OK! OK! OK! I'm trying it. I'm giving it the old college try. I'm pumping up the old heart. I've got a partner (and a good one I might add). The only thing I haven't done is put in the ipod. I'm too busy talking to my partner. I'm going to save that suggestion for when I am alone and trying to push through.

The last two days have been  little jaunts around the neighborhood. It is about 1/2 mile give or take a step or two. My buddy has added ankle weights and tried to shorten his stride. There is nothing we can do about the 31 years age difference but he hasn't left my side! We walk a little and run a little. All told we have probably ran at least half the distance of the 'hood. Yesterday there was some soreness but not anything that would stop a girl. Today... this old body is thinking 109# is as good as 200# on these thighs! It also sounds like I'm going to be on my own this evening when I get home so I am trying to pump up my psyche. I'm not going to let some cold, windy weather, sore thighs and no partner stop me now. After all, who gives up after only two days? NOT ME! No sir...I'm gonna do this if it kills me. It might, but I'm going down swinging!

So, if you happen to be in my neighborhood about nine tonight, circle around and make sure I make it home. It's the least a friend could do....the most you could do...park the car and RUN with me!