January is spelled OFF.

I decided to take January OFF in terms of any kind of exercise and I have learned the following things:

1. I was always in pain.
2. I was always miserably tired and jacked up on caffeine.
3. I miss my working out friends.
4. Since I've stopped, I've lost about 7 lbs. 5. I'm ready for February to come back because the lack of discipline in my life is rather annoying.

 About two years ago, I started running pretty seriously. I fell in love with it. I became obsessed with it. I ran any free minute of the day: morning, lunch, evening, late at night. (Late at night, I always ran across the street from the cemetery...not on the sidewalk that bordered it.) I felt great. I looked great. But I also realized the change I felt existed completely INSIDE of me. I looked great, but I really looked exactly the same. I felt great, but I only lost about ten pounds over the course of a year – if that. 

The funny thing about running is that just one day of it improves me completely. After a long break, it’s tough to get back. It is. But then the first time I really hit the street for a few miles, my body instantly responds. I become more flexible. I sleep better. I am happier. My pants fit (better). Today I was tempted to run. I was home early enough. I cooked dinner early enough. I had all the fixings of a great workout, but I made myself stay home. I forced the time off because as much as I miss the physical benefits and the “good” that routine does for my soul, I know that running also takes over my life.

 I know that I will always be on the run, so to speak. I will be packing socks and shoes and shorts and shirts into my work satchel – the one that’s meant for work.

I will be a slave to a strict eating schedule to make sure I can run the minute I am free. I will add headphones and music to my OCD list of things I check before I leave the house: keys, phone #1, phone #2, dog in, doors locked – it goes on and on… I will always be cracking some joint on my body, anywhere and everywhere the mood strikes me. I release my hip in the hallways. I crack my neck in line at Jason’s Deli. I pop my back in the Barbie section of Wal-Mart. (Don’t ask.)

 I know it will be my life again soon, and I am very grateful for it. I thank God everyday that my body still works. I am big guy. Big. And my knees are fine. My feet are fine. My vision and hearing are fine. I’m not sure if I’ll make it to February. I bought the adult equivalent of Zips the other day. I’m itching to use them.

 Until the running muse returns, I’ll keep loafing around, reading, heading to bed early and eating in the middle of the night. There’s something to be said about waking up at 7 a.m., hours after my typical run would have started. I guess the thing to be said is this: As much as I love running, this break ain’t bad at all.