Day 166 of 30+ Day Running Challenge

My thoughts so far:

It's day 166 and I still have to go out for my run this evening. It's raining, but it's not as cold as it was the last time I ran in the rain. It shouldn't be too bad.

But what are my overall feelings with this challenge so far? I must say I feel so much better for it. Not just mentally because of the whole "testicular fortitude" thing, but also physically. Last year when I'd run, I was going for about the same distance I'm doing now, but only about three days a week . . . if that! I'd find some excuse not to go and then beat myself up about it because I knew I was just fooling myself.

Another thing, I was hurting back then . . . a LOT. I was still a relative n00b to the whole minimalist/barefoot wave going through the running community so I was still trying to nail down my form. I was doing much better than I had been with regular shoes, but I still had those really painful mornings when the first few minutes of walking around were a tad excruciating. Now I only have those painful mornings maybe a couple times a month. And it takes only a couple of steps to work out whatever the kink was. So, MUCH better than before!

And I would have to include joint pain along with that as well. Knees are fine, my creaky hip . . . gone (god, I sound like I was way past 50!). I would have to attribute the lack of pain with the necessity of having a comfortable run every day. By going out every day, I've had to self-evaluate what I was doing so I wouldn't be regretting my run later. Focusing on how I placed my footing, how my knees were bent, keeping my back straight, head up . . .

And the major plus to this whole enchilada? SLEEP!

I used to have restless nights and wake up horribly groggy. And it was a struggle to keep my chipper personality at work. I still have those restless nights, but they are so few and far between. And they are always caused by something I had eaten that I shouldn't have. Usually some sugar loaded treat that I still fool myself into thinking I can handle. But sleep is so wonderful now. Once I'm in bed, I'm knocked out within a few minutes. Rarely do I wake up in the middle of the night. And when I do, it's to hit the head after a night of beer and buds.

And when I wake up in the morning, it's no longer having to fight the blanket monster keeping me comfortably in bed. I'm still a bit slow to get out of bed, but it isn't a fight. Wake up before the alarm, turn it off, crawl out of bed and hit the shower. Wide awake once the water starts hitting me. So much different than last year.

So if I keep up with this running challenge, it's mainly going to be because of the whole sleep benefit. I'm still only getting about six hours of sleep, but it is the best sleep I've had since I was a wee lad.

GD

p.s.
ain't checking. run smiley :)