Over the past month I have started to ramp up my cardio. Over the past month I have rediscovered my disdain for running. In my opinion very few people enjoy the act of running itself, but rather suffer through the act in order to achieve the desired results often associated with it. Most of my life running has been incorporated, albeit involuntarily, by playing different sports. Now that I have not been playing on any official sports teams, I have noticed that it is much more difficult to motivate myself to put one foot in front of the other at such a fast pace.

In most cases I will run for about 10-15 minutes in order to get the blood flowing before another type of workout. I also understand the importance of continuing to run on days where no weight lifting is involved. But those 10-15 minutes are often the minutes that I dread most about the workout.

With anything difficult task in life we often feel much more accomplished after completion. This is absolutely the case for me and running. Knowing that I have worked at something that I really do not like doing in order to better myself always makes me feel good. The immediate endorphin rush is nice instant satisfaction, but the long term benefits are what truly pushes me to lace up my running shoes time and time again. What I really find to be the most difficult about the entire running process is the decision to take the first step. Committing to spending the time to doing something that I often dread is never easy. But I will often compare the relationship that I have with running to the dynamic that a stereotypical toddler has with broccoli: It is something that will provide long term benefits after suffering in the short term.

Find the will power to take that first step into that venture that you dread but know will benefit you in the long run.

Til next time!