Yesterday I felt like a runner again. It has been many years since I have said that, but it felt so good I have to say it again. Yesterday I felt like a runner again.

I didn’t run fast and I didn’t far, but I still ran…on the dang dreadmill to say the least. I’m sure you are all dying to know how far I ran. Don’t get too excited, but this is a huge deal for me. I ran a whole two miles without stopping. Now…I know I’m not the person I used to be. Some of you amazing runners out there may think it’s nothing. Two miles just a few years ago was a warm up for me. In the time I ran two miles yesterday, I nearly had three miles in back in the day, but I still ran, nonetheless.

Doing those two miles were not easy. Was it a fluke? Possibly, but I’m going to live in the moment because it’s mine…all mine. I have had many injuries and setbacks that I resolved to the point thinking I would never run again. I would try, but eventually get off the dreadmill after a couple minutes. My weight kept going up and my self-esteem kept going down. I would pass people on the road running, deep down thinking how much I miss that time.

I enjoyed running alone. It was my time. My hunka hunka would always tell me how much better I would be if I would just give running a chance again. Yeah Yeah. I hated when he would tell me that. I never wanted to hear it. No matter how much deep down I wanted to run again, don’t tell me I need to run. I KNOW I NEED TO RUN. Encouraging me to run would push me to not run. I’m a tad stubborn that way. I get that from my mom.

Let’s go back a couple weeks. I have the convenience of having a dreadmill at work. I fought through many painful times just trying to make it five minutes. I told my hunka hunka I had to invest in new shoes. I have always been a loyal Brooks Adrenaline fan. I prefer the men’s because the toe box is bigger. Priorities. These shoes are the best for my severe overpronation. After much researching online, I resolved to the fact I couldn’t find my favorite pair which were the 11 series (that means 2011). I invested in 17. I felt like I was in Heaven from my first step back to ‘running’ again.

My ankle still screams, and maybe it always will just simply due to injury wear and tear. I ice it each time with my frozen corn when I get home. I woke up today stiff and my ankle is really sore. I smile thinking of what I have done. Hello, Mrs. Runner…I see you coming back, one step at a time. I’m thankful for my dang hunka hunka. I think his persistent annoyance of trying to push me into running finally happened…on my time…on my terms. I’ll still give him credit. Even if I didn’t give him credit, he’d take it anyway. That turkey…love him so much. He always knows what’s best. I just hate sometimes when I know he’s right.

So…as I was driving home from the gym, I could immediately tell I truly was in my runner’s high. That does exist…pure euphoria. I caught a whiff of me. YES!! I stink. I remember years ago after a race, my hunka hunka and I were sitting at Denny’s at breakfast. He leans across the table and said, “Damn, baby, you stink.” I’ll never forget that day. Stinking is something to brag about. I called my hunka hunka just to tell him I have the stinks again. I’m a runner…slowly, but surely… but I’m a runner again!