My Love/Hate Relationship with Running

Ahh..running. So good for you, such good exercize, but WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR ME? The IDEA of running is always nice to me, and I picture myself like this:


Doesn't she look happy? The wind blowing her hair, smile on her face, her watch keeping time and the sun shining down on her. WRONG. Who looks like this when running?! How is she so happy?! It is because she is already in shape and knows "hey, I don't even need to be doing this!" And who wears white spandex shorts anyways? No, no she is entirely too happy

No, no now THIS, this is what I look like after I run: exhausted. I start out OK, then the lungs start to burn, my knees start to ache (again, thank you lacrosse), and it is more of a punishment than anything. I would rather do any type of exercise than run a 5k.

I have had a love/hate relationship with running for as long as I can remember. When I started playing lacrosse in 4th grade, I specifically took the 1st home position because there was limited running, my job was to run around the crease (small, small space) and score goals-perfect. This continued throughout my whole lacrosse career-1st or 2nd home was my position, I scored goals, I didn't have to run up and down the field, and everyone was happy. When I graduated from college, I joined a gym and actually started to enjoy running on the treadmill. I could actually get lost in thought while watching the TV and before I knew it 3 miles..4 miles I had run. Success was mine!

Well...fast forward to present day. Romania. Three months of living with a host family and eating rich, wonderful food-I think running might be in order. Problem is--people don't run here! I have never, ever seen a runner on the streets in Targoviste or here in Recas. Apparently, if you want to work out you go to a gym, and forget being a woman and going to the gym, they don't do that either. SO my options are working out in my house, and running outside. I bought myself some weights and have a big spare room so I can do my p90x workouts, but I have decided that I must suck it up and also run (ok, ok JOG) outside. Today was my first attempt.

11:30AM "Ok, it isn't too hot outside. I'm going now or I never will." Workout gear, check. Ipod, check. Running route that isn't in the middle of the center and won't make me look like a fool in front of my town-check. I was off. Now let me make this clear-this isn't my FIRST time trying to run in Romania-I tried once in Targoviste but after making it the first corner I was being chased by a pack of wild dogs-it looked a little something like this:

Ok, so maybe not this cute, but they were chasing

me and I had to high-tail it back home fast. I noticed that Recas didn't have the same problem with dogs so I figured I was safe. Anyways, back to the running. I headed out towards the train station, blasting B.O.B.'s Airplanes (check it out!) on my Ipod. I felt good, lungs weren't burning yet, and there was even a slight breeze.

Well, I'm happy to report that I made it home alive. I had to walk a bit, but overall I think it was a good first run for Romania. I hope to get into a routine so my legs don't feel like spaghetti after each run, but hey, one day at a time right?

Here's to a success for the day. I'll take. it. :)