Running: Let's Get Real

So in the past few months, I've defended, graduated, moved, started a job, turned 25...lots going on! Except one thing that used to be very prominent on my blog-running. 

After my defense and running two half marathons within 8 weeks of each other, I was just burnt out. 

But instead of remaining active (I did do yoga while I was still a student, but once I couldn't use the gym anymore I stopped), I legit sat on my butt and ate whatever I wanted for the past 4 months. 

Before we left MS, I did really well for about 2 weeks with eating and being active. Then it was our last week there and I wanted to eat at all our favorite restaurants. Then we moved and had no kitchen for 3 days while we lived in a hotel. Then we went to Charleston for 5 days and it was our birthdays. Excuses, excuses. 

The other morning I stepped on the scale and was surprised/not at all surprised to see I had gained weight since my defense. Not a ton, but a decent number. I'm not going to beat myself up about it because honestly, there's no point. The weight is there now and it needs to go.

Time to get my ass in gear, to put it plainly. I have a wedding gown to rock in less than 8 months!

Races are very motivating for me. I like having a goal in place and a date on the calendar with a commitment. I signed up for my third half marathon, the Run Town USA Half Marathon, which is part of the Spinx Run Fest here in Greenville! The race is at the end of October. 

Greenville is such a beautiful city! There are endless trails and the community is very active. Zach, Zoe and I live just north of Greenville, so we have wonderful suburb neighborhoods to run in plus we can hit up the Greenville trails within 10 minutes. Perfect!

Now comes the hard part: actually going out and running.

After work today, Zoe and I hit the pavement for 2.15 brutal humid, hot, hilly miles. We were dying. Her probably because of the heat and me because I haven't ran in months combined with the hills...we are used to Mississippi flatland!

The run was short, tough, and slow, but I got out there and did it. I know I can only improve from here. It's really really tough "starting over". 

But at least views like this make it a little easier.