Challenges

So today marks the beginning of Lent, and instead of trying to give something up, I've decided to take something on.  [huge sidenote: I am in no way a very religious person, and I'm well aware that my Lenten promise reads like a Someecard.]

You'll have that.  In an effort to get back on track with training for the half marathon and my somewhat healthy lifestyle that flew out the window once the snow hit the ground, I've decided I'm going to make a conscious effort to break a sweat everyday.  Forty days.   Totally doable.  

I already nearly broke it tonight.  Yes.  Day 1 of Lent.

I was pretty excited to start this plan today, and was looking forward to a solid cold weather run all day.  Once I left work and walked six blocks to the parking garage, feeling extreme winds hit my face, I realized an outdoor run would not be happening.  So instead I prepared for a trip to the gym for some quality time with my archenemy, the treadmill.  

I was a block away from the gym and realized my ipod was still at home.  I sat at a stoplight and had an internal debate for the entire length of the redlight, changing the direction of my turn signal four times.

        I should go home.  Workouts suck without my ipod.  [left turn signal]

                Ugh once I go home and feel the warmth again I'll never leave. [right turn signal]

        There is NO way I can go on the treadmill without an ipod.  I'll go insane. [left turn signal]

                 SUCK IT UP.  It is day one of Lent, you can do this. [right turn signal]

So I ended up at the gym, sans ipod.  I honestly can't remember the last time I was at the gym without it.  Even if it dies halfway through a workout, I usually keep the earbuds in to avoid personal interaction.  And wow.  The gym is a completely different place without the "don't bother me" message that the ipod sends.

First, I stripped off my layers in the locker room and changed my shoes.  As I was exiting, a woman who also had ashes on her forehead high-fived me and said "Ooooo yea girl you got it too!" I had no idea this was so high-five worthy.  In my 23 years of being ashed, this has never happened.  

I then went to the treadmill area, only to be met with a completely full lineup.  And look, I get that we're all just trying to "better ourselves" but seriously?  WALKING at a 2.0?  Go pace your living room.  You will burn the same amount of calories.  And make me far less annoyed.  After a solid 10 minute wait, I finally got my chance on a treadmill, and faced one of my greatest fears: running on a treadmill with no entertainment.  The open treadmill was of course in a tv dead zone, I had no ipod and there weren't even people having a conversation I could eavesdrop on.  I literally stared at my reflection in the mirror.  Needless to say, I didn't last very long (1.7 miles), but I was pretty pleased with myself for even making it to the gym without an ipod, let alone proving my worth on the treadmill.  And let's be honest, on a GOOD day I can do *maybe* 2 miles on the treadmill.  

I must say, in a twisted way, this run was a pretty big boost to my confidence level.  Even though it was 1/3 of the run I did over the weekend, just knowing that if things go wrong, I can still pull out a decent run was comforting.  I think a big reason the marathon was so fricking long was that once my ipod shorted out, I was just ready to count down to the end.  I need to be able to run without relying on the Blueprint 3 blasting in my ears (although it definitely helps).  I think this is an experiment I might try to continue once a week, just to see how far I can push myself.