Running On The Run. What Am I Thinking?

Most people that know me don't envy my schedule.

They might envy that I often get to work from home in comfortable clothes, but they'd prefer to sleep in, go to sleep at a normal time and not be on-call 24-7.

So many people—my wife included, I think—would probably consider me nuts for trying to train for a 5K in less than two weeks. 

I haven't really run in a while. I had about a two-week stretch in August where I thought I'd get myself going again, but a late summer cold slowed me down.

And then I quit.

That's how my story with running goes. I start. I enjoy the feeling after having completed something I'm semi-dreading. Then I find something to occupy my time with and excuse myself out of the commitment.

So I set an endpoint this time.

Thanksgiving morning.

The Bulle Rock Turkey Trot, which benefits the Susquehanna Hose Company, will be my first ever run. I did plenty of runs in high school while playing soccer. Long runs. Dreaded runs.

But this comes with a benefit. It's giving back to our community and our top-notch volunteers.

So I'm going to suck it up and run. And I'm hoping the experience will energize myself into a better routine and a better lifestyle. 

Heck, maybe some of you might see my lazy butt running around Aberdeen and decide—not like in Forrest Gump or anything...I don't particularly need any running partners—to join in and give up your bad habits, throw aside whatever excuses you have in your way and get yourself back into shape.

(For the record, I will guarantee that isn't my last Forrest Gump reference)

I started running again last week. It was brutal: a half-mile run and I was winded.

I'm going to blog about my experience because it will force me to keep going. I'll discuss plenty of aspects of my running experience in the days to come. I'd also like to hear about yours.

And shoot me an email to let me know if you're picking up running suddenly—sean.welsh@patch.com—or if you're planning to run in the Turkey Trot.