How To Fake It Until You Make It.

My relationship with running started back in college when I would run to avoid gaining weight from all the junk I was eating and booze I was drinking. I would run a few miles here and there but my main goal was to offset any bad habits I had. Fast-forward a few years to January 2012 – A friend of mine asked if I wanted to run the Reston 10 Miler with her and I just said yes. Didn’t really think about it just went for it.

When I started “training” for this race I ran a few (aka 1) 6-7 mile runs but that was it. I ran because I figured I had to in order to not completely fall apart running the race. I by no means enjoyed it but realized that in order to make the race tolerable I needed to put a little leg work in. I figured I’d eventually enjoy running, at least I hoped that I would!

After running the race I had such a high! I ran with a girl who I assumed was faster than I was but ended up pulling away the last 2 miles and finishing faster than any of the previous 8! I sprinted across that finish line, felt like I was going to fall over of exhaustion, and then something amazing happened, I realized I had just ran 10 miles! That seemed insane to me and I wanted to do it again…

So I started running a little more and finished a few more races. Then the hot summer months came and completely squashed my “like” of running. As things cooled off I noticed that in November I was running again just for fun. Say what? Fun!? The holidays came and went and then I found myself on January 1st wondering what I wanted to do with my year. I ended up signing up for a half marathon in March, a half marathon trail run in June, AND a full marathon in September. I am not sure what came over me but I signed up for all them within a few days.

It has been 5 weeks since then and I have ran 5-6 days a week and have been following my training plan with out missing a single run or work out. And you know what? I actually enjoy running now. I even run more than I am supposed to on the Sunday long runs, just because my legs feel good and I figure why not?

Coming back to this title “Fake It Until You Make It” – by setting racing goals I hoped that eventually I would really enjoy running because it is just so good for you. Not only is it a great work out it is like free therapy. You are stuck in your head for hours just thinking. I have figured out so many things running, new dinners, big decisions about switching jobs, planning entire events, and the list goes on!

Not every one is a runner. Not every one is an at home cook. Not every one likes working out. BUT every one can “fake it until they make it”. If you can commit to making yourself healthier and commit to taking things one day at a time and hanging on until it finally clicks. Even if you don’t love the little changes you make at first I can guarantee after a week you will love the way you feel and then just go with it. It takes just ONE action to start something life changing. Why don’t you make this year your year to a better life?

To follow my constantly changing running adventure, kitchen experiments, and daily balance of healthy living stop by my blog “A Better Year To A Better Life”.

Megan