Tough is Good

Racquetball has always been one sport I've loved. Two problems exist: location and a partner. Seems if you have one you're lacking in the other. For several years now, I've not been able to play due to both problems. But the other day, I pulled my bootstraps up and headed out to a place I'd not been before to play around some. I know how easy it is to quickly get tired so I started out slow. No, there was no partner. But I wanted to play so bad. Therefore, me, my racquet and one ball from years ago decided to see what we could muster up.

After the first hit, I was hooked and it felt gooooood!! OMGosh, how I've missed it. Within minutes of stretching my body in so many directions I knew what was going to happen...can you spell S O R E!! I thought about it several times but I just couldn't get enough. Hitting most every ball served and chasing down the loose ones was a little difficult for one person. Kent showed up from his workout and told me "you know you're going to be sore". Next thing I knew he was inside wanting to bat around some. He's never got into sports that required a lot of fast stop and go.

I wondered how all my running was going to help out and I can't tell you just how much it did! Though I tired some, I lasted over an hour just by myself. Previously, when I would warm up waiting for my partner, I'd be tired and sweaty when we started. Not this time. Not to say that it wouldn't happen had there been a partner.

Fast forward to next day: a little sore. Two days after: I KNOW I worked out. Three days after: My butt and quads are sooooo sore and I now know I have butt muscles that have never been used before! Problem? I can't run...I could hardly get up out of the chair. Groaning and moaning didn't help with my body screaming obscenities at me all the time. But deep down inside, I loved every minute that caused these muscles to scream out. And, yeah, I'd do it again!

On Monday, four days later with NO exercise of any kind, I pushed myself out the door and went for a run...a VERY EASY one. I was still sore just not as bad and I was missing my running bad. Laying off any extra exercises that may use my gluteous maximus was necessary if I wanted to get back to normal with my running. I hoped for 4 or 5 slow miles but ended with 6.25 miles and 1 warm up walk...more than pleased. Today, I'm barely sore but wasn't sure I could eke out 5 miles after being "down" a lot in the last few days. Starting out with that in mind, the first 3 miles were torture. Due to the heavy humidity (98%), it was a killer for breathing. But I wanted to defy these "issues" and DO it. When I entered my 4th mile, I was feeling better. Five came up and all I could think about was I wanted to match my mileage from two days ago. That became easy...moving right on along. Next thing I knew I had eased up to 7.5 miles!! I ended with a one mile cool down and a lot of stretching as my muscles were a little sore.

No, I wouldn't say this one was for the books. But I will say that I overcame several obstacles and in the face of "quitting" or "walking" I pushed through. Listening to my Christian music made my run so pleasant...no push...just thinking, praying and talking with Jesus. I'm so glad that I had this run today. It was a blessing in disguise.

Regretful that I didn't reach 20 miles last week, I do know what the problem was and it wasn't from lack of exercise. So, I'm shooting for a better week this week. Don't sit around. If you're experiencing a little depression from being inside due to the weather, try to find a time you can hit the door for a little run. You won't regret it. There is no "poor" run/walk unless you do NOT do it.

Run 4 It