A conversation with myself

I find that I don't understand people who truly enjoy working out. I mean, I sort of enjoy it but overall I think I would be just as happy sitting on the couch. But I like how I feel after it's over and how I feel more comfortable in my clothes now.

But everytime I hop on the treadmill or start a boot camp class the conversation in my head is something like this:

"Hmm, this isn't so bad. I feel good today. I can do this."

fast forward about 5-10 minutes depending on how intense the workout starts out

"This has to be about halfway over. What? It's only 5 minutes. I cannot do this. I should just go home/get some food/lay down."

few minutes later...

"Well, it's really not that bad. I'll make it through, but gosh this is boring."

and then...

"Ok, I'll do X more minutes/X more distance and then I'll let myself stop."

a few minutes before my assigned distance or time...

"Hey, I'm almost done...maybe I can do a little more. This isn't terrible."

And when I'm done I feel great and am glad I did it. But I know the next day that same conversation is waiting to travel though my head.

This past Saturday I ran/walked a 5k (not a race, just the distance) to prove to myself I could. It went pretty well. I did it again yesterday. I have a nice blister on my left foot and the start of shin splints in my right leg due to a weird gait I developed trying to ease the pain of the blister. I'll take a couple days off of running to recover. I'm trying to convince myself to sign up for Rice's 5k this Saturday. I need to overcome my fear of running in public.

Next post - Henry Kissenger and James Baker at Rice.