Good Morning, Sunshine!

I have been toying with the idea of getting up early during my summer break to run -- before Tim has to go to work.  In order to get my run in, I would have to get up at 5:30 AM.  This is ok with me because that is when I get up during the school year, so I decided to give it a go.  I decided that waking up early is better because there is no one out.  I know it sounds ridiculous, but I am in a really insecure mode right now with my running.  I don't like an audience.  Even though I feel I handled an a-hole heckler well recently, it still irks me.  I just want to run in peace.  Running way early gives me that -- plus cooler weather.  Besides, I am hoping to develop an addiction to early morning exercise that will carry over when the new school year starts.

As I was running, I had to laugh at where my mind went.  All the things that ran through my mind were kind of humorous....sooooo, I thought I would give you a glimpse into my mind during my morning run.  This is a candid look, for sure...

Couch to 5K app says, "Run now"

Ok, I can do this.  Here I go.  Man it is cool outside this morning.  Feels nice.  All of these houses are dark, and here I am getting my workout over with.  Suckers! Man, running really just hurts.  Why do I enjoy this so much?  

Couch to 5K app says, "Walk now"

Oh, Thank God.

"Run Now"
Damn it.  Ok, here we go, again.  Why, when I run, do I feel like I am going to shat my pants?!  I REALLY don't want to have to stop back at the house to go to the bathroom.  Hope this passes.  God, my LEGS HURT!  Suck it up, Courtney!  Your legs are not going to burst into flames or explode.  You made it through CHILD BIRTH! TWICE!  You can do THIS!  You only have to run in 90 second intervals, you wimp.  WWJD?  Jesus, this hurts! Ok, that wasn't nice, you need an act of God to get you through this.  Sorry, Jesus!   Damn, how many HILLS are in this neighborhood? Is it just me or am I ALWAYS running up hill?  We really need to move to a flat subdivision.

Several running and walking intervals pass...

Running up a steepish hill, I stop running for about 10 seconds because it hurts.  Then I hear the "One minute left" warning.   "Damn it Courtney, you have a minute left.  Finish strong.  Run!"

And I did.

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And now, a photo montage dedicated to my morning run... hehe

Still a little dark out here, but oh so nice and quiet...

Sun is coming up.  Pretty! 

The obligatory heart rate monitor calorie burn pic.

The selfie of a girl happy to have already finished her workout!  Yes, I am a dork.  LOL

The look of the girl in the picture above quickly changed after seeing that the next run will require 2 and 3 minute running intervals.  Ouch!  

On a serious note...

I know it is odd to put a serious message after a bunch of silliness, but I can't help it.  The death of James Gandolfini was all over the news last night.  They say he had a heart attack and my best guess is that it was due to his weight -- that is an assumption, I know.  It is a sad reminder that I am fighting for my LIFE, here.  Those of us trying to improve our health are not just in it to look awesome in a pair of skinny jeans, but to live long, full lives.  So, I am going to try to remind myself of what exactly I am fighting for the next time I feel like staying on track is just too hard.   I urge you to do the same.  A lot of us are in this together.   We are strong.  We are capable.  We are worth it.