Lost My Mind

It's official...I have lost my mind and gone completely bonkers. I have committed to run a half marathon. Now to you avid runners, this is no big deal...but I am not an avid runner. Remember the dreaded fitness tests in school? I was the one in the back of the pack huffing and puffing. Now I try to run 3 miles at least once a week, and that is going at a pretty slow pace. So yes, I have gone mad...but it is worth a try right? Anything is possible...even for a mother of 4 who loses control of her bladder after 5 jumping jacks. And now because I have posted this I can't back down - it makes me more accountable to accomplish a 13 mile run!

To prove that I am not completed mad, here are 10 benefits of running (see this article for more info).

1. Win the battle of the bulge. Running is one of the top activities for burning fat.
2. Prevent muscle and bone loss.
3. Fight disease. Running reduces the risk of stroke, breast cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
4. Maintain and improve general health. It raises HDL (or “good”) cholesterol, reduces the risk of blood clots, and encourages use of the 50 percent of your lungs that usually go unused. 
5. Get confident. Jogging builds confidence and self-esteem like few other individual sports can.
6. Stress Relief.
7. The famous "runner's high". Running, especially outside and on trails, creates a release of endorphins that can cause euphoria (runner’s high) or just a general sense of happiness.
8. Train your mind. By making yourself overcome the obstacles that running brings, you learn focus and determination.
9. Improve coordination.
10. Versatility. Not many sports can be done almost anywhere with almost no gear.

Ok, after all that I feel better about my decision already...maybe I'm not so crazy after all. I've got a lot of work to do..gotta run!