Run #2 - There is hope running hopefuls.

DISCLAIMER: I do this for all those who have wanted to give running a try but don't know how to feel about it. I hope my experiences will allow you to vicariously live the first and most feared days of training.

Ok. So this time was only a little over 1 mile, but the fact that I even went out after the beating I took last time, makes me feel like a new man.

Are you wondering what it feels like to not run and then push yourself hard? Let me answer in 2 ways.

1- On a personal level: It feels awesome. Learning or re-learning that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to, is really empowering. It doesn't matter if it's a great distance or not. All that matters is that it's a challenge to you, and that YOU accomplish it. You are only accountable to yourself. In fact, this makes it easier to get out and do it. No one is going to tell you that you didn't do as much as someone else on their first try. However, this is also why it's so dangerous, because no one is there for you to answer to. You have to be completely 100% honest with yourself. Not 99.99%, a WHOLE 100%.

2- On a physical level: your feet are sore. Your legs feel like you walked from here to the moon (on a special space bridge of course). Your core, which is made of the muscles surrounding your mid-section, feels like you got jumped by a gang of drunk construction workers - yes, with steel-toe boots. Or if you rather have a description that comprises all of the physiological ailments, then... have you ever been run over by a truck and lived? I think this is what it would feel like.

See why I feel good about myself for going out there again? Oh yes. Sure I didn't go as far as I did before, that's because I'm not dumb. I wasn't ready to repeat the torture that was moving around after running the first time. I took it slow and I was smarter about it, and I was able to find out something about me and running that might have been the key miscommunication in our souring relationship over the years.

There is a smaller soccer field just around the corner from where I live. I decided I'd find out how many laps it'd take to make a mile. I figured it'd be about 4 or 5. After 4 I was only at 0.6 miles and I was starting to go nuts. I couldn't go fast enough, literally, I was tired and in a bit of pain in my legs - both from soreness and from my new style of running, barefoot, so I couldn't go faster even if I wanted to. You actually use more of your muscles when you use shoes such as the Skeletoes or the highly acclaimed but more expensive Vibrams.

Anyways, I couldn't go any faster, and I was starting to go crazy even when I was listening to my iPod and the amazingly great Born to Run book. However, here I was, finding myself hating it as I already knew I did. It wasn't news to me, this is why I hated running, because it is so freaking boring. It was predictable.

Not so fast!!!!!! That's when I decided to ditch the soccer field and take on the road. As soon as I did, my boredom problem started to melt away. Maybe I don't hate running itself, maybe I just hate hamster-running and I'd be ok as long as I was getting somewhere. The only way I had ever run was in a track, and I remember wanting to break an ankle because I was so bored. So, again, I ditched the field and headed for the road. I was able to not only finish up the mile but I did a little bit more all while feeling rejuvenated. I could have gone a bit further, but again I'm not dumb. I decided to call it good and live to run another day.