Pushing It

It's raining. It's been raining for three days. I love the rain, the quite peacefulness it brings, the time to get lost in my thoughts and just listen to the sounds of the world around me. This does not, however, help with the motivation to keep up with the work outs.

I've started using the treadmill in the gym at work. I work at a call center so I sit for 8 or 12 hours a day, not real good on the body. We get 10 minute breaks throughout the day which I have started using to get in a little jog. Just a few minutes, but I always come back to my cube feeling better. More alert, focused, and ready to face the next lag of the day.

I say "jog"...... not really sure what it's that I do. It's not walking but not running by far. I guess "jogging" is the right thing to call it. I'm moving at a quicker pace than I am used to and my heart rate jumps up. Usually it's only for a couple or three minutes at a time. I give myself pep talks while doing this. No one else is there, just me and the T.V. I don't turn the lights on, no need to. I just pay attention to what I am doing, which is getting healthier.

Today I got cut from work early because we weren't busy. As I walked to my van in the rain, I went back and forth in my mind as to whether I was going to work out. It was yucky outside, I just lost work hours, and I really wanted to go home and go back to bed. I try to live by the motto; " Do the right thing." Most of the time it works well for me. So I open the door and see the bag that holds my workout clothes. Not wanting to be a hypocrite, even to myself, I grab the bag, ditch my purse and lunch bag and go to the gym. I like the way I feel when I workout, always have. I like taking time for myself.

I put the bad feelings into the workout and push myself. I stretch for a few minutes as always, set the timer for 30 minutes and walk at a slow pace, increasing the speed a little at a time till I get to jogging speed. I start off and focus on breathing right. ESPN is on the T.V. so I'm watching that and not looking at the timer. When I do look down I see that I've passed the four minute mark, I think "cool!" More SportsCenter, more time passes and I'm going on my seventh minute. I push to finish this pace for 10 minutes, not a marathon but a big thing for me. I walk at the same pace for a little while, then think, "I can jog a little more.", Five more minutes and another five at a slowed pace to cool down.

I'm sweaty and red faced but feel charged up. I know I'm doing something good for myself and that is a great thing!