I love to run. This is something that I am slowly discovering as I continue week to week. I am not so sure that it is the running exactly but I sure do love the feeling I get knowing that I am doing something for me by myself. I can do it as fast or as slow as I want and it is time that I take out for myself, alone with my thoughts, any music I want to listen to, and feeling the fresh air in my face. I went running again tonight. I almost didn't make it as we were trying to finish up FHE game night. I was slowly watching the sun go down and starting to panic inside because I knew my daylight was running out on me. So we finished, I quickly threw my running shoes on, ran out the door, sped to the track, stuck my earphones in, turned on my i-pod and started walking. Saturday was quite a dismal preformance and I left feeling quite discouraged and defeated again. I couldn't breath still and my ankle was bothering me and I was barely able to run five minutes. SO SAD! Well I am proud to say that tonight was so much better. I got out there and I felt really good. I took my allergy/asthma medication enough time ahead so that it had it's full effect. I also took an excedrin to dull any of the little pains my body tends to feel as I start running and because Becky said she heard that caffeine may actually help asthma. I also pulled out my last secret weapon. As I pulled into the parking lot and looked out at the track I said a prayer out loud in my car. I asked Heavenly Father to just give my body the strength it needed to continue to run and to give my spirit and mind the determination I needed to complete the running I wanted to do. I felt so good getting out of the car and I knew that whatever I accomplished on the track was everything my body had to give at this time. I walked around the track and really felt energetic. I then started running and I was actually able to run for twelve minutes. I felt so good. I then walked for another five minutes and started running again. I felt really good starting up again but alas my body gave out after another half mile. I had to stop but I didn't feel defeated. I felt like I gave it everything I had and I was proud of myself. So I decided I was going to walk another lap around and then go home. Well I walked another lap and then all of a sudden I decided I wanted to sprint a lap.......so I did! I...sprinted.....a.....lap. Can you believe it? Then I walked around again and started to leave the track and head back to my car and then Beyonce came on, her song "To The Left". I don't what it was about her song but I turned around and looked at the track and I didn't want to leave yet. I felt like I wasn't done quite yet. So I walked back to the track and ran another lap around all the while mouthing the words to the song and pretending I was in the music video. Don't worry there was nobody around. When I got back around I finally felt done and I drove home with the windows down singing at the top of my lungs Kelly Clarkson's "Since You Been Gone". SO I feel great and that is why I say I love to run. I am proud of my body and my spirit. I am glad I have a day off tommorrow when I don't have think about running but I am excited to go again on Wednesday and see what I can do. During my last lap around the track I looked up into the sky as the sun was finally setting, the clouds were orange and pink and black and blue and beautiful. A few raindrops were beginning to fall and I was hot and it felt really good. I said a silent prayer of thanks for giving me the energy I needed tonight. And I honestly felt like Heavenly Father was proud of me. I felt him smiling down watching his daughter take care of the physical body he gave her. I felt that he was really proud of me. I know that taking care of my body is not something I have put top on my priority list the last few years and starting to try and run is driving that point home with every ankle, knee, and hip ache. But I honestly feel close to Heavenly Father when I am out there running and I really think that he is there cheering me on. I don't want to stop. I will not stop.