Why do I run?

The other day our neighbor was at our house and he commented on seeing me running all the time.  He asked me why I ran, and I looked at him like he was crazy.  I said "I run because I like to."  I didn't know I had to have a reason, and really, who runs if they don't like it?  Especially for months at a time.  I have been running 5-6 times a week (mostly 5 times, sometimes 4 times) since Feb. 25th (wow 4 months!  remember this post where I said "I will see a difference after 4 weeks, family and friends see a difference after 8 weeks and everyone else sees a difference after 16 weeks," I can't believe I am still running).  If I didn't like to run, I would have stopped a long time ago.

I can feel it in my body, and it's not always a "good" ache.  No one, ever, is allowed to touch my shins.  I am just fine unless my shins get bumped or touched in anyway.  I get a weird twinge in my feet sometimes. It's very uncomfortable and makes me feel like I won't be able to walk, but as soon as it starts it's gone.  I don't even know how to describe it.  My knees ache some, especially at night.

But the good changes are also evident.  I have lost (about) 15 lbs since I started running.  In high school I had killer legs, guys always talked about my "sexy" calves, I have those "sexy" calves again.  My clothes are literally falling off my body.  I can run 4 miles (plus) without stopping.  I haven't had a serious acne breakout since I started running. (I don't know if it's related, but I'm going to say it is.)  I am a happier, calmer, better person after I have run.  I love being able to outrun my 13 year old son.  I love that I am losing weight, maybe not a lot, maybe not fast, but it's falling . . . steadily.

So . . . while my old body sometimes feels like I'm falling apart, there are so many more benefits.  I enjoy running.  I really, really do.  There are definitely weeks days when I don't want to go running.  There are times I have to just put my running clothes and shoes on and just step out the door without thinking about it because if I dwell on it too much I will veg on the couch and not go anywhere.  I get so frustrated at the scale sometimes, but really all my ups are my fault . . .and my downs. 
                                                                                  

Speaking of my neighbor.  I really don't like the guy.  He is ALWAYS coming on to me.  Chris talked about some of our past problems when he first moved in next door and thought they would end up being friends.  Anyway, that means that my neighbor knows some of the stuff that has happened in Chris's and my relationship and he thinks that means that he has free rein to hit on me.  He is married, they got married about 10 months ago or so in their house and they asked Chris and I to witness their marriage.  I am very happily committed to Chris, I just had a baby, for Heaven's sake.  What happened in Chris's and my past is just that, the past.  We have moved on but this guy just seems to think that I would willingly jeopardize my relationship with Chris to have a no-strings attached affair with him.

If he's not hitting on me, he's talking about some other girl that he saw recently that is "hot" and these girls always tell him how "hot" he is.  Or he says they tell his wife, who is an extremely jealous person.  If I can believe what my neighbor says (which I don't believe half of it) his wife accused him of having an affair with me while I was pregnant. (YUCK!)  I did think he was cute, in that bad boy kind of way, but after getting to know him, he's NOT cute at all.  He tells us things about his financial problems, but then talks about the $250 shoes he just bought.

He's very careful to not say anything around Chris to me.  He keeps his distance and talks only to Chris when Chris is around.  However, if he happens to come over while Chris is working I am ALWAYS glad Damian is there.  He even told me once how he was annoyed that Damian is always hanging on his every word when he comes over.  I don't care, whatever will keep him from being too forward with me.  Of course I can't tell Chris that he hits on me all the time.  Chris would just be angry and I don't really want that.