I hate it... but I LOVE it!

When I was a cheerleader in High School, (Yes it´s true. Now let´s all just get over it.) we had to work out and do plyometrics etc. with the girls basketball team. It was pretty tough, and well, I have never been the most fit person ever so when the coach (who was also the track coach) asked me to join track you can imagine how difficult it was for me not to laugh in his face.

I said no.

It is not that I have a problem with physical activity. In fact, I really like it. I love Yoga, and kick boxing, and step aerobics is pretty fun too. Don´t even get me started on P90X... I hate it, but I love it  . (I have a high pain tolerance) I find exercise fun. (We´ve known for ages that I am not normal.) Another thing that exercise is good for, is the hilarious commentary that comes from the instructors. There are sometimes that I wonder if their little pick-me-up speeches are really for themselves. Prime example: before I came here, my aunt gave me an exercise video and the guy in it says the most annoying things. My personal favorites are "That burn feels so good, I don´t even know what to do with myself" and "When I see you walking down the street I want you to be like ´I look cute in my jeans´" I  laugh heartily every time.

Now since I can only take so much of that man and his commentary I spend a lot of time running. It is also a great way to get out some extra stress. I believe that exercise is 93% mental. If you think you can´t do it... you can´t. Lately I find that I am my own cheerleader:

"Come on, you´ve done this tons of times before"
"Don´t worry. You´re already half way...",
"You bet you´re NOT going to walk at the end of this stretch or you are going to make yourself sprint longer in the end."

One thing I have noticed lately on my morning run is that people are friendly.(?) I am not sure why because they are not friendly during the day. (I mean a good majority) Many have smiled at me and also wave. There are the few that wave and smile as they run in perfect form in the opposite direction. (probably wondering if I am going to collapse soon.) Then there are those who run and barely raise their hand while they run somehow bent over looking at the ground as if to say "Hey, you´re sucking wind? I´m sucking wind too." and then, there are those who come running in perfect form from behind and when they pass they just wave their finger as if to say "I just lapped you... and I´ll be coming back around sucker." They run so fast... and so well.

One day that is going to be me. Until then, at least I am out there, enjoying watching the sunrise and seeing happy Germans as I attempt to run my stress away. Besides "That burn feels so good, I don´t even know what to do with myself."