Run, Fat Girl, Run!

posted by Melissa Baumgart

Change is the only constant.
I think someone famous once said that.  (I looked it up, it was Heraclitus, A Greek)  For Good Luck With That, it seems we change one topic every year so far.  Somehow, as it gets closer there is one month that just doesn't make sense.  And as much as I like to stand by my word, I also gravitate toward spontaneity.

I mentioned in my last post some of the reasons why we were thinking of not doing "Make our Own Wine and Beer" for October.  A brief recap includes, but is not limited to:  costs too much, too much drinking all month to do school/work/life, too similar to Urban Homesteading, and requires going out a lot to tastings (more money and loss of sleep.)  So, we decided to switch it up, and work on something simple and cheap.

The New October!
After lots of brainstorming, we settled on the idea of running one mile every day for 30 days.  We had thought of doing a half marathon for one month, or even a marathon at one point...so this is a simplified version of that dream.  I tend to dream big, and this month will be a practice in being realistic and kind to myself.  In some ways, the biggest challenge for me will be to keep it to one mile.  Like I said, I have a tendency to want to outdo myself.

Do you do that?  Are you competitive?  I actually don't think there is anything wrong with being competitive.  I think it adds an element of fun and excitement to life.  But I do know there are a lot of people that, just by the way they say the word "competitive", definitely think there is something wrong with being this way.  Like it inherently is bad or mean spirited.

Since I can't add on mile, my friend Matt had a brilliant suggestion (My guess is he likes a little competition himself).  He said I should work on making my time better and better.  Compete with myself, and still keep it one simple mile.  I love it!

So, today I started the challenge, and on day one my mile was 9 minutes 21 seconds.  Amy suggested a goal of 5 minutes by the month's end.  I think she is crazy!  Maybe, just maybe, I can get it down to 7 minutes.  I have some extra pounds to carry, so the speed might not come that easily.

That's the other thing.  Since my days of hot yoga, I have put on at least 2/3 of the weight I had lost.  And to top it off, Urban Homesteading month was filled with homemade decadence like poutine and lasagna.  I don't know why, but I just crave all that heavy, salty food.  ALL THE TIME.  Maybe this month will be a little wake up call to spark some healthier habits once again.

I invite you, one and all, to join us one this simple challenge.  It doesn't take much time, it doesn't cost anything (if you have a pair of shoes), and it is totally doable for almost anyone (even if you start out by walking.)

Who's in?
Melissa