Why do I torture myself?

Despite the fact that I made my sister swear up and down last year that she would never, EVER, "no really, I'm serious- if I say I'm going to do this, remind me how awful it is and don't let me do it- seriously", let me train for the mini-marathon again...I find myself training for the mini-marathon again. Some people are just gluttons for punishment, I guess. Or my sister is a push-over. :) The worst thing really is just that I don't have a lot of time to train with work, school, and Bible Bowl; but, just like anything you really want, you just have to make it a priority. (Did I just claim to "really want" this?? I suppose I want the thrill of saying I did it, and the motivation to work out. Can't really think of any other reasons...hmmm.)

My training has been pretty weak up to this point...only a day or two of running a week. Starting this past Monday, I've decided that I have to run at least 3 days a week or I'll never survive 13.1 miles come April 30...especially trying to run with my sister Jenn who is in way better shape! I'm also trying to do the workout video from hell (30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels) 3 days a week (although I've already missed a day this week so guess it'll only be 2 this week...) for some cross-training. Jenn and I are running 6 miles on Saturday...our first day training together this year, and also our first day running outside this year!! I know, pathetic...but we've both been running indoors...we're wimpy like that and don't like cold weather!

Tonight, as I was running around the track at church (which gets really boring...9 laps to a mile!) trying to get a couple miles in after school, I noticed a girl about my age who would run a lap, walk a lap, run a lap, and so on. We were the only 2 on the track. The gym was about to close and I was about to do my last lap around...when I suddenly got the notion out of nowhere and asked her to run the last lap with me (since I was passing her right at that moment). She said okay, so we ran and chatted. Turns out she is a new mom, new to running, and is trying to work up to running 1 mile without stopping. She apologized for how slow she was running and how she's never played a sport or anything, but I didn't mind...I was there not too long ago (plus it was only one lap...like I really cared how fast it was). I remember trying to work up to running a mile a little before me and Ben got married, and being someone who has never played sports either, I remember well how hard it was to push myself and build up to that and feeling like no one understood how hard it was for me. Running that one lap with her really made me see how far I've come over the years...not that I'm in any way a great runner now, but I've definitely improved.

As I was leaving and walking out to my car, the girl pulled up in her car and asked if I ran up there every Thursday night. I told her yes, so she said maybe she'd try to start running Thursday nights as well. Guess I made a friend, have a little motivation now to actually go to the gym on Thursdays even when I don't want to, and hopefully motivated her as well!