“You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back.”

Well, I am going to pat myself on the back...and I'll tell you why.

Lent started last Wednesday.  My family has always practiced Lent, but I was always pretty blasé about it.  I'd pretend to do it, or sometimes do it for a week.  Two at most.  Until a couple of years ago, I never really wanted to fully participate.  Last year, I went all out.  I gave up carbs, ponytails, and talking to a certain boy that has been in my life for most of it.  I enjoyed it so much.  It was such a wonderful feeling to sacrifice things that I love for such good reasons.  If you don't know about Lent, look it up.  I'm not here to preach to you or tell you why you should practice Lent, I'm here to tell you what I've chosen to give up this year.

I'm giving up carbs again.  And by giving up carbs, I mean that I'm "doing Atkins" for 40 days. 

I love Atkins.  I do it every so often when I realize that my eating habits have gone to shiz.  It's much more favorable than the good ole lemonade diet.

Ash Wednesday was 6 days ago and this morning I had lost 8 pounds.  (NO, that is not why I'm doing this...if you know me, then you know that I LIVE for carbohydrates.  I love love love them.)  It's just a little perk.  Judge me if you want.  Ask my roommate, I have been doing NOTHING BUT EATING since Wednesday.  If there is low/no carb food around me, I'm eatin' it. 

That's not really where this blog is going - if you are a regular reader, then you know how I love a good back story.  That's what that was...speed up a bit to the real reason for this post.

On Wednesday, I made a freakishly random decision to start running.  Lent is about sacrifice, right?  Giving up a vice.  I am, athletically, the most unmotivated person ever made.  I was the mascot in high school - really, I was.  Why?  Well, really so I could hang out with all of my friends on pom and cheer while we were at the games...but ALSO because I got to use that as my PE credit.  Win.

My point is, I've always taken the easy route when it comes to excercising.  I did successfully complete bootcamp two summers ago but that's a different story.

And...I can't run.  Never have been able to.  And who am I kidding?  It's my own fault because 1) I have never really tried - except those 3 days in middle school when I attempted to be on the cross country team - and 2) because I haven't been able to completely fill my lungs up with air since I can remember.  Cyndi & Regan, I love your comments that you leave on my blog, but please save the lectures for our daily phone calls.  I know I know I know.

So, there is this nice little program for lazy, er, unmotivated people called "Couch to 5k" or "C25K" as it's more commonly known.  It's a 9 week interval training program that claims it will get you from barely being able to jog, to running a 5k. 

What have I gotten myself into??? 

It takes 29 days to form a habit.  I'm doing it.  I even ran in the pouring rain on Sunday and did the entire thing!!  I am certain that the people eating dinner at the Wedge got a great laugh as I ran by, soaking wet, but at least I wasn't packing that oh-so-delicious pizza onto my rear end.  So there.  :)

I finished the first day of week 2 this evening and my legs feel like they are noodles.  They are sore.  The good kind of "I just worked out and this feels strangely good" sore...but I have a feeling that they are really going to be hurting tomorrow and Thursday. 

Even though it's only been a week, I highly recommend this to anyone that thinks they can't run.  I can't say enough good things about this thing.  I cannot wait to run a 5k.  What a great feat - something that I never, EVER thought I would do.  I know I have a ways to go, but that's the end of my tunnel...and I'm really excited to see the light....wait, did I already mention that I'm excited?  I am.

I know I will have at least one person standing at the finish line waiting for me when I do my first 5k...and I think she's maybe more excited than I. 

That's what best friends are for.  Christel completely lit up when I told her.  She's funny like that.  And I know she's going to be freakishly jumping up and down, giggling and holding the biggest yellow gatorade that she can find when I come running through.  Because that's the kind of friend she is.  :)

If any of you are interested in trying C25K...click here.  It's pretty fool proof.  I know it's cliché , but if I can do it, ANYONE can. 

Next thing you know, I'll be signing up for marathons and whatnot.  Oy vey.

Baby steps TJ, baby steps.