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So you know those people who love to run? Who can run for miles at a time? Who actually enjoy it? Well, until about a month ago I viewed those people with the type of incredulity, shock, and amazement every time I heard them discuss running that could only be understood as envy. “You ran for 30 minutes straight? You can run for three miles? Wow that is crazy!!!” Dismissing these alien runners as odd or freakish was my not-so-subtle attempt at disguising my own desire for that ability, and my own fear that I was incapable of such feats.

I joined a small but fastidiously managed gym in the beginning of June and have been going religiously ever since. Aside for the ever so pretentious and yuppified name (”The Slope”), I have been extremely happy with my overall experience there - from the first week I started going I noticed changes in my energy, mood, and overall fitness. (I have been a gym-goer for years but never as consistently or dedicated as now).

I dabbled with every cardio machine - always skipping the treadmill - I would occasionally walk on one but never without envious peripheral glances at the runners at either side of me. For my cardio workouts I had been focused on the stationary bike and elliptical trainer but I had been getting bored of my routines - I tried adding incline, speed, and resistance to no avail.

So a little over a month ago I decided to try a short jog with much trepidation - and to my extreme amazement not only was i able to run for several miles but I actually enjoyed it! So ever since then I have been running - I sprint, I jog, I alternate - I am one of the weirdos! I recently reached a lofty goal of mine - running a ten minute mile for five miles straight!!

I have to admit that the amazing running shoes my parents just bought me as an early birthday present have certainly helped. I am hoping to increase my mileage for endurance runs and bring my running outside (once its a bit warmer) - who knows maybe one day I will run in a marathon!