Things I Learned from Running

After an emotional Thursday-Saturday, I decided to hit the road for a little run Saturday evening. Here are some things I learned while running - in no particular order.

1. Physical pain is not more or less than emotional pain. If you push so hard that you cough up a long, then you are just in physical pain - AND emotional pain. Both are still painful, equally painful.

2. If you don't want the car full of teenagers to laugh at you as they drive by you 4 times, then you should probably wear some spankies (or some kind of tight running shorts) underneath your regular running shorts - even if it does give you a muffin top. Muffin tops are easily disguised with loose t-shirts.

3. You have to work harder when you are running and pulling your shorts down every 5 seconds. Refer to #2 for a tip on avoiding this problem.

4. If your legs are already sore, running outside when it's really cold makes it feel better - until you stop and thaw out. To sum: Shorts when it's 40 degrees = good now, bad later.

5. If you don't want to take a cell phone with you when you run, it's best to stay on the streets of people you know. That way, if you lose a lung on the road, you can ask one of  your friends to help you find it.

6. If you want to run on streets where people you know live - wear longer shorts, and don't go out when people will most likely at home getting ready for Ward Conference giving them the best opportunity to see your legs eat your shorts and your muffin top hang.

7. The harder you run, the harder you have to think about breathing and the less you can think about whatever is stressing you out.

8. You can go longer if you just jog. Sprinting results in longer recovery times, and much more walking. Then you're angry and dying.

9. When you can see your bright pink socks where your baby toe hits in your shoes - it's probably time for new shoes.

10. It's best to run toward the cars so you can see them - especially if you have noise-cancelling headphones in.

11. Some cars actually aim for you, and swerve at the last possible moment. This will in turn, increase your heart rate. That could be good, or bad.

12. You don't have to be super skinny to run outside - as long as you're wearing a shirt.

13. Running outside is much harder than running on a treadmill - even if the treadmill is at an incline.

14. Running doesn't solve your problems, but it can help you blow off some steam so you can deal with your problems with less emotional involvement.

15. The hardest part of running (or exercising period) is putting on your workout clothes.

16. The second hardest part of running (or exercising) is walking past the t.v. remote and Costco-sized bag of Pirate's Booty, and stepping out the door.

17. Running is more psychological than it is physical for me. I have more psychological boundaries than physical boundaries. Removing the psychological boundaires and pushing the physical boundaries, helps eliminate emotional boundaries. Funny how it's all connected isn't it?

18. The right song on your playlist can make all the difference. It can make or break your pace and motivation!

19. Passing out on the street is not an option. You will be roadkill. Coughing up a lung on the road, would be the better option here.

20. There is almost nothing as beautiful, or inspiring as a fiery pink and orange sunset as you smash your personal barriers.

21. Running doesn't make you skinny. Running and dieting (without cheating) makes you skinny.

22. Running is hard if you are dieting and not cheating.

23. Just because it's hard, doesn't mean you get to stop. I tell my violin students that [we] practice to make things easier, not to make things perfect. If it's hard, you have to practice it. Practicing will make it easier, until you push through those boundaries and it becomes hard again. Keep running (or exercising) to keep making hard things easy.

24. Everybody runs for different reasons. I hated running, but I started to run because I wanted to lose weight. Now I exercise and try to eat healthier foods to lose weight. I run because it helps me deal with stress. I also run because I sort of enjoy it, shhhh, don't tell.