it seems like ages ago that i was training for and occasionally running marathons and it’s hard to believe a year and a half has already passed since i last tried to get back into the habit. it’s always easy to find excuses for not taking the time to exercise when you have an active two and half year old running around.

but now the peer pressure is on now that i’ve become a founding member of a running group at organic valley and the fact that they want to start running regularly after the new year has been just the motivation i’ve needed to drag myself out and run a couple of miles yesterday and today. i was pleasantly surprised that i was even capable of running 2 miles as i imagined that i wouldn’t even be able to make it around the block.

i know vowing to exercise more is a pretty cliche new year’s resolution so i’m adament that this is not, if fact, that sort of resolution. but it’s feeling entirely possible that i might just meet a personal goal of running a 5K in february or march and maybe, just maybe, a local syttende mai half marathon in may. and then the chicago marathon in october? perhaps. right now, it’s just a one foot in front of the other, one day at a time sort of thing.

sort-of relatedly, i had no idea that you burn almost exactly the same number of calories regardless of whether you’re walking or jogging – 62 calories per 100 pounds body weight per mile ( at least as long as you’re running slower than 9 minute miles which i definitely am at this point ). who knew? at least i don’t have to feel bad if i take a walking break every once in awhile 🙂

oh, and happy new year!