Celebrating a Milestone
This weekend I’m celebrating a milestone. Two years ago I began running on the steps in front of my local courthouse. In these two years I’ve run up and down about 2,000,000 steps – between 3,400 and 5,600 steps per day, depending on how I feel and what the weather is like. On my 53rd birthday in October I challenged myself to run 10,000 steps. I did it in one hour and 38 minutes!
Why I Love Running Steps
Running steps more than anything is meditative. I walk about a half mile from my house to the courthouse, through my alley and down a semi-busy street. I watch the sun rise every morning, listen to the birds chirping, often flying overhead. I pass by morning glories opening and alley cats that scamper as I approach. I arrive at the courthouse while no one else is there, except for the security guards. I count the number of laps I do up and down, which I like to call “innings.” I don’t really focus on counting, it just happens naturally and keeps my mind light and free.
I live in Miami, so it’s hot here – really, really hot and humid. That adds to the challenge of keeping up my energy. But it also allows for a really good sweat, providing that feeling that I’ve sweat out the toxins and have accomplished something worthwhile. It may sound crazy, but the hard work is worth the euphoric feeling you get when you’re finished. I leave with happy, positive thoughts. Running the steps is free. No club membership! Plus it doesn’t take much time – about 45-minutes of time from start to finish.
I run barefoot because shoes cause injury to my feet and knees. Here I am running the Rocky Steps in Philly.
What Motivates Me to Run
When I was a child I was always the last one chosen for sports teams whether at school or at play. I wasn’t an athlete; in fact I couldn’t hit a volleyball over a net, hit a baseball or golf well. But as I got older I realized that not being athletically inclined didn’t mean I had to be unfit. My father passed away when he was 40 from a heart attack and my mother had two forms of cancer suffering for 9 years before passing away at age 70. I can’t change my genetics, but I realized I could get and stay fit, eat right and do what I can to stay healthy. Thinking about my parents’ health challenges motivates me every day. I live by my motto, “Shut your pie hole and move your ass!”
It’s Not Discipline
In the beginning, running steps was really challenging. I was already doing aerobics for years at home, but running up and down steps is really a strenuous workout. It took a lot of self-talking to get up and out of the house early every morning. But then after a few months, gradually I began to look forward to going. Now I can best describe running as a habit. It’s sort of like getting up and brushing your teeth. You just do it. I do have sluggish days when I just don’t feel like running, but I go anyway. My husband calls those “bonus days,” because although your time may be slower or your step numbers may be lower, you went out there and did something on a day when you just didn’t feel like doing it.
A white layer cake I made to celebrate.
What Running Has Taught Me
It’s wrong to label yourself in any negative way. “I’m not athletic,” “I’m too old,” “I’m uncoordinated” or “I don’t think I can or should do this or that.” Running has taught me that I can have as much energy as a 25-year-old, and that if I can stick to something athletic and challenging, then I can transfer that success to other areas of my life. The only boundaries are the ones we put on ourselves.
Thanks so much for the link – will definitely have to check this out.
I’ve been sick too. Revisions are hard when you’re sick.
I have a revision schedule and now I’m behind. It’s a new system and I have no idea if I’m doing it “right”.
You’re welcome, Cassandra. I’ve added those blogs to my Google reader.
Iapetus999, ugg, being sick is the worst, isn’t it? Sorry to hear you’re sick too and behind on your schedule, but don’t worry about it. Take your time. Good luck with your new system. I don’t think there’s is any one “right” way of revising. It’s whatever works for you, as long as you hit on all the points you want to fix in your manuscript and you open yourself up to see the good and bad. I’ll have to keep an eye on your blog to see if you write about it.
Yay Snow!!
Ha! Glad you like the snow, Kevin. Actually, it’s thanks to WordPress, but I thought it was nifty. Yay snow!
Snow, cute! That’s the kind I like to see, and living in SoCal, it’s the only kind I see.
On your last point, getting rid of “should”–I’d like to see that word mostly eliminated from all talk about writing. So many pundits proclaim what writers “should” do (or what people should think or feel!). The only legitimate one in my book is that writers should write.
Have a merry and a happy!
GLHancock @ A Writer’s Edge