Goal Attained!

Woo hoo! First ever four mile run! Went over to the park with a friend and did 12 laps (1/3 mile each--you do the math), with an added pace boost on the last one, plus sprinting (such as it was) to the finish. There were a couple of stops for hydration (summer has finally arrived in Southern California), and I didn't time the run at all. However, no matter how long it actually took, I am totally jazzed to have run 4 miles at one go. Next up: 5 miles!

Really, I am just amazed to have come this far. To start off this year, never having run more than a mile at a stretch before in my life, and realizing that I have the stamina and strength to run, and the ability to train up to longer and longer distances, is just a wonderful feeling. It really shows in my other physical endeavors as well. It used to be that I could only bike 3-4 miles before my legs would want to give up and my lungs would be working overtime. Now I can go 8 miles without really thinking about it. My low back pain is essentially nonexistent. I'm thinking about training for a triathlon and a marathon. I have never in my life felt like I belonged in the athletic community, and now I know that all I have to do is put my mind to it and start on that journey of a thousand steps.