First Run of the Year!

I finally made it out on my first run of the year yesterday!  I usually run at night, but I've been starting to workout more in the late morning/early afternoon, so at about 10:30 I headed out.

I was initially only going to go either 1/2 mile, or 1 mile if I was feeling really good, so when I got to my 1/2 mile point and still felt good, I thought "Why not go for 2!"

I don't know about other runners, but I love running into the wind.  I get warm super easily and I love how cooling the breeze is...think of a dog sticking it's head out the car window and that's the kind of joy I get from running into the wind.

Here's a visual:

Image from Digital Photography School.

 

Anyways, I always feel great with the breeze in my face, and I should have known better that when I turned around at the end of the mile, and the wind was going to be at my back, that running was going to get tough!

 

That last mile was a struggle...and of course that's when I got ALL the traffic!  (You know 3 cars out in the country is A LOT!)  I even waved to the one I knew and he looked at me like I was a stranger... I must have looked as aweful as I felt. :-/

 

I thought about stopping and walking, but I'm no quitter!  When I made up my mind to go 2 miles, I was RUNNING both miles!  Even though it was tough, it felt amazing to finish!  It'd been since the kids started school in the fall when I ran last, so I was quite proud that I made it that far on my first time out.

 

I knew I was going to be sore today and boy am I!  Running works muscles that even advanced workout DVD's don't seem to touch.  This kind of pain is the best kind though...my abs, obliques, glutes, thighs, shins and calves are ALL sore!  I currently waddle when I walk, but it feels great! ;-)