Why do I run in the winter?

The winter is cold, it's hard to breathe, my joints hurt. Why do I continue to run through the winter?

Besides the fact that I enjoy my time running there is one reason that I run through the winter.....

... So I am not too out of breath to smell the flowers I run past in the spring. :) It's very nice running by all the flowering trees and gardens and just taking a nice big breath and absorb the good smells and feelings.

Updates:

• I have lost 12 pounds since I started running. 
• I can now run at Sean's pace (not his work out pace, but his regular pace). We like to remember the first run we did together where I didn't even make it around the block. haha 
• I am finally confident enough that I am not constantly wondering who is watching and what I am doing wrong. 

Sorry it is still not a substantial post.

IT'S WARM

I don't have much to update on or talk about but...
After the struggle of running in the cold... it's finally warm!!! I could not be happier about that! Even though I have created some really fun treadmill workouts, for those really nasty cold days, it is nice to just go out and enjoy my run rather than think about the fact that my digits are frozen. I have been able to go for much longer outside runs with the warmth. I am not saying that it's impossible to run outside in the cold... I am just saying I don't enjoy it as much. ha On top of that, my puppy can do my warm ups with me again and that makes us both happy!

Sorry it's a short and pointless post. I am just trying to be better about frequently posting.

Annoyances

I went for a run with Sean the other day, which is great because he is faster than I am so it pushes me.
But on our run I was thinking about when I first started running verses now and its kind of funny the differences. Not only am I more capable now but the things that used to bug me are funny.

I used to get upset when my hair would get in my face and my clothes weren't staying put. Now as long as I can see my hair can be wherever it wants. I have gone for runs where my hair was down and it was in my mouth and in my eye, it wasn't preferable but it didn't bug me. I have also gone for runs and my clothes were falling down and riding up and in general not cooperating and I didn't have a huge problem with it.
I have gotten to the point where I no longer worry about the little things like that, I just want to run.

Excuses

If it is important to you, you will find a way.
If not, you'll find an excuse.
-Unknown

I think of this quote a lot. Not just for my running, but everything I do.
Any goal I set, I make sure that I am finding ways to make it happen rather than reasons why it can't.

Some of the excuses I have overcome with running (some of these were the very early days).

1) It hurts my knees.
2) It is hard to breathe... I have athsma or something.
3) It takes so long.
4) I work all day, I just need some time to relax.
5) If I run then I have less time to do other things, like dishes.

All of those seemed valid to me at the time but I have not used them in a long time. Of course it hurt my knees, it was new and I had never used those muscles before. I don't have athsma, I was just really out of shape. It takes time, yes, but it's a great time to clear my head and forget about everything that is going on and just be for a little while. Relaxing is much more satisfying after a good run, trust me. I can wake up early and do the dishes before work, not everything has to be perfect at all times, there is room for error.

With every 'excuse hurdle' I overcome I feel like a more confident and accomplished person. This makes the goal more fun and my life more exciting. The things that my body is capable amazes me, and if I hadn't gotten over my excuses, if I had quit when it was hard, I would never have known how good it could feel!

I am not saying that I don't make excuses, or that I am through all the hard times, I am just saying that it is worth it to push on through! And I have even more exciting barriers to break through!

p.s. Rebekah is no longer doing the Ultra with me... She has other things going on.