RUN

I'm sitting on the floor in my living room; stretching out my legs.

It's morning, but the sun has only started to rise.

I'm wearing workout attire, and a sports bra with an itchy tag I keep forgetting to remove. 

There are beads of sweat rolling down my chest, and my lungs are outrageously open. 

I am so grateful for my lungs.

This morning, my eyes opened at 5:30, and I was extremely comfortable in the position I was in. Everyone knows the feeling. Your pillow is perfectly contoured to your head and neck, the comforter is covering all of the appropriate places, and your body temperature is neither hot or cold - it's just right. 

Laying there, I was debating on staying under the covers, or pushing them off of me. Sophia is with her dad this weekend, so I thought of things I enjoy doing alone. "How can I make today awesome?" I ask myself.

I already knew the answer.

I have fallen in love with running before the sun comes up.

Years ago, running used to scare me. I'd call my mom crying from the locker room, because we had to run the mile in gym class. I’d text her saying, “Help me. I luv u.” It was like I was going off to war. I’d always finish second to last, followed by the guy wearing Jnco jeans and a wallet chain. 

We've come a long way since then.

This morning, before I zipped up my coat, I put Frankincense and Stress Away behind my ears. I also carry pink pepper spray, that's strapped around my hand - just in case. (I love you Dad). Then I turned off my kitchen light, and slowly snuck out the front door. That's where I paused, in the darkness, and took a deep breath in. 

The cold definitely shocked the lungs, but it only made me giggle. "Holy shi* it's cold," I said out loud. But started walking forward anyway. Outside, everything was silent. The frost was faintly shimmering from the street lights above, and everything was...well...frozen. Except for me. My body was warm, even though the cold was working its way in through my shoes.

As I check in with my body, I assess my feet and work my way up from there. Fun fact: there's a difference between pain and discomfort. Did you know that? I do feel discomfort sometimes, in my legs or my back, but challenges are not supposed to be easy. That's why they feel so flipping good. 

(Takes sip of water)

Another thing I enjoy thinking about while hustling through the darkness - is most people are still in bed. Most people are still sleeping, and I feel like it's a secret that I'm up before them. I get to experience the gorgeous colors of the sun when it rises to say hello. That's when I sneak back home, just as my neighbors are turning on their coffee pots. 

If you're reading this thinking, "There is no way I'm getting up at 6:00 A.M. on a Saturday, and running when it's 8 degrees outside." Then that's totally cool. Because I used to think the same way. I mean, sleep in and be warm? Or put on 13 items of clothing, only to go outside and have the snot freeze to your face. Ehh. I get it. But for some reason, the challenge of the cold made me smile even more. 

Random question: For anyone who does run year round, what are your favorite articles of clothing that help keep you warm? I'm fairly new to this. Are there any particular brands you prefer? I'm always open to suggestions.

If you're not open to starting your day by running through the streets, I challenge you to try it anyway. Or begin with walking. Do you know how good it feels to come home, already having accomplished so much? You've done SO much good for your body and it's not even 7:00 A.M. Then later, you can say you earned it, when you sit and binge watch 12 episodes of F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

If you are a beginner, that's okay.

Google defines beginner as: a person just starting to learn a skill or take part in an activity.

My girl Barbara Sher said, "You can learn new things at any time in your life, if you're wiling to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you."

Tomorrow's a new day. 

Open your eyes and make it count.

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