I almost said I hate exercising, but that's not entirely true. Some activities don't even feel like exercise, but I know I'm getting a good workout in. For instance: salsa dancing, dance aerobics, hiking, yoga, mowing the lawn, and sometimes playing sports. And by 'sometimes' I mean spontaneous pick-up games.
And then if we continue going down this scale of exercise we'll reach such activities as swimming, badminton, soccer, basketball (you get the picture), workout videos, core floor work -- all activities that are exercise by definition that they require workout clothes and tend to cause quite a sweat. These are activities that need a lot of energy and usually a mental pep talk from me before even beginning. But once I get started, I usually enjoy the workout.
But then we come to running at the very bottom of the totem pole. Running I loathe. Running doesn't just take effort and a pep talk. It takes every breath out of me. Gravity constantly reminds me that I'm not quick, that putting one foot in front of the other is more effort than its worth. It reminds me that I am not a runner. I feel like I'm carrying an extra ten pound sack in my hands. I thought that running in the States, away from high humidity and unbearable heat, would be a breeze; instead it is undoubtedly worse. I was able to run twice as long without stopping in Thailand, yet here in Oregon, with the 75* weather and continuous wind, I feel weighed down. Instead of wiping sweat off my brow, I'm wiping tears from my eyes (because of the wind -- not because I'm sad).
I try varying up my exercising routine with workout videos and core floor work, but running always cycles back around and I have to face the mind-numbing exercise with resigned resentment.
And so tomorrow, running and I have an appointment. And I'll be approaching it with unchecked fury. Too bad that fury can't fuel the running fire.
And then if we continue going down this scale of exercise we'll reach such activities as swimming, badminton, soccer, basketball (you get the picture), workout videos, core floor work -- all activities that are exercise by definition that they require workout clothes and tend to cause quite a sweat. These are activities that need a lot of energy and usually a mental pep talk from me before even beginning. But once I get started, I usually enjoy the workout.
But then we come to running at the very bottom of the totem pole. Running I loathe. Running doesn't just take effort and a pep talk. It takes every breath out of me. Gravity constantly reminds me that I'm not quick, that putting one foot in front of the other is more effort than its worth. It reminds me that I am not a runner. I feel like I'm carrying an extra ten pound sack in my hands. I thought that running in the States, away from high humidity and unbearable heat, would be a breeze; instead it is undoubtedly worse. I was able to run twice as long without stopping in Thailand, yet here in Oregon, with the 75* weather and continuous wind, I feel weighed down. Instead of wiping sweat off my brow, I'm wiping tears from my eyes (because of the wind -- not because I'm sad).
I try varying up my exercising routine with workout videos and core floor work, but running always cycles back around and I have to face the mind-numbing exercise with resigned resentment.
And so tomorrow, running and I have an appointment. And I'll be approaching it with unchecked fury. Too bad that fury can't fuel the running fire.
