National Running Day!!

Hey everyone!!

Today is National Running Day!! http://www.runningday.org/events/index.php Lace up those sneaks and pound the pavement!! No excuses, make the time and get out there. Running has so many amazing benefits for mind, body, and soul. You burn 100 calories for every mile you run, it improves cardio vascular health and overall fitness, it tones your legs, it gives you some peaceful alone time, it gets you outside (away from those stuffy office buildings!), it teaches you discipline, it teaches you perseverance, and it gives you the best mental clarity you'll ever experience. It's cheaper than the gym, you can do it just about anywhere, and it feels so awesome.

A lot of people will tell you running will destroy your joints - more often than not, these people are non-runners. It sounds like another excuse to me. And, Stanford University actually just conducted a 21 year study that found that runners' knees were no more or less healthy than non-runners' knees. The study also found that runners experienced less physical disability and had a 39% lower mortality rate than the nonrunners. You can read more here: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1948208,00.html But do it after you get today's run in!!

Some people think they can't run - FALSE! Everyone can run. Most beginners are running too fast, so they can't sustain the pace and they're discouraged by their labored breathing. It may sound obvious, but SLOW DOWN! Run at a pace where you can carry on a conversation. You'll be surprised at how long you can run at that pace :) And remember it's not a race, it's something you're doing for yourself, so get out there and run happy!!

In other news, I leave for San Diego TOMORROW. I'm running a marathon in 4 DAYS!! The cold is subsiding (thank god) and I'm feeling excited and nervous and excited again!

Countdown to San Diego: 4 days
Current Status: Running happy!