Just thoughts

In 2012 I started seriously running.  I was reading a blog, Runs for Cookies, that led me to more running blogs, that led me to more running blogs.  It motivated me to start running (and to start a blog).  I was literally reading at least 30 blogs at one point.  I was invested in some of their jouneys, and was following along with them as many of them started their running "careers."   I often would get behind, very, very behind, in my reading and would spend hours trying to catch up.  I didn't want to miss anything about these people's lives that I had become so invested in. 

If I found a blog (and I had several) that were older blogs, I would often go back and try to read from the beginning.  This was difficult as several people I read had years worth of posts.  Over time, the vast majority of blog writers I started following have disappeared.  Even some of the long term bloggers (hello Sublurban Mama! where'd you go?).  I had one that I read religiously (Poonapalooza) that started running at about the same time I did, and started blogging at the same time I did.  She was an extreme weight loser but I felt a connection with her.  She changed her blog to Punchapalooza and eventually stopped blogging completely, even left Instagram where I followed her. 

No I didn't stalk these people, but I did enjoy reading about their lives, and their fitness (most were runners, but not all).  I am down to 4 regular blog posters, out of the dozens that I follow, and of those 4, only one posts very reliably (you guessed it, Runs for Cookies, although she's not running much now). 

Do you ever feel like you have a connection with someone you've never met?  I'm sad every time I realize I haven't seen a post from one of my favorite bloggers in a long time.  I've been debating about searching for another blog to follow, but I don't know.  I don't read them right away, I tend to blog binge, and then go for weeks without reading any.  Having less is definitely a time saver for me. 

There's no reason to all that above, just something I've been thinking about lately.

The weather here in western Washington has been beautiful.  Cold, but beautiful.  It's sunny and clear, and it makes me sad that I run after work in the dark.  Well, actually I haven't done any dark running in awhile.  With my leg issue (I think I pulled a muscle) I cut way back on my running for awhile, and now that I'm back to running, I've been using the treadmill at the gym. 

Tuesday I went to the gym to run.  It was beautiful outside, and I really wanted to run outside, but it's also cold, and I didn't bring outside running gear, only capris and a light shirt to run on a treadmill, so I spent 40+ min running in place staring at the sun outside.  =/  So yesterday I decided that I needed to run in the sun, outside.  I took my outside running clothes and when I was done with work ran through neighborhoods in downtown Everett (where I work).  It was so nice, I ran to a small park and stopped and enjoyed the sunset for a few min and then ran back.  It was a perfect 3 miles. =)

I was unable to get to the gym to shower, so I did a mini sponge bath in the bathroom before I had to walk to the bus to go home.  I may do this again, it really was nice. =)

I've been thinking about . . . well, just life in general.  There are things that I've always wanted to do, but haven't.  I'm a fairly lazy person, once I'm home, I don't like to do anything.  I put off a lot of stuff because I just don't want to do it.  For example, hiking.  I think hiking would be so much fun.  The overnight backpacking that Damian was going to do this summer had me so jealous.  I let things stop me, like not having the gear for it (or the money to buy the gear).  And not wanting to do things by myself.  That was the biggest reason when I was younger, I didn't want to go alone, and I had no one else to go with me.  But recently, the more I think about it, the more I want to do it.  And I think I would do it alone (or with Damian if he wanted to go too).

My biggest problem is leaving the house.  One of the only reasons I make myself run is because I almost always leave from my house.  I can't remember one run where I drove somewhere to start the run (not counting races).  In fact, the majority of races I do are in my town, I don't go places to do a race. 

I think of things I want to do on the weekends, and then never do them.  Why?  Because I'm lazy.  I'm comfortable on the couch watching my TV (the many mindless shows I watch of others doing things.)  I just need to get over the mental hurdle of leaving my couch.

I think, in many ways, running, specifically long distance running, makes a person mentally stronger.  I truly believe that I am a stronger person, mentally, than I was 6 years ago, or even 4 years ago.  I just need to figure out how to channel my desire to do something into actually doing something.