Coming back, and more on why I run

This summer was tough on my running.

Here are my monthly totals (in miles) for the last year:

November 2009: 100
December 2009: 72
January 2010: 92
February 2010: 111
March 2010: 115
April 2010: 100
May 2010: 112
June 2010: 47
July 2010: 55
August 2010: 22
September 2010: 57
October 2010 (as of 10.9.10): 35

Not surprisingly, as my running numbers have fallen, my level of pressure, frustration, stress, anger, anxiety...all the bad stuff...has crept onward and upward. It hasn't been pretty, though as always, I work hard to hide it.

The truth is that running is my mental health and wellness. One of the reasons why I was in favor of adopting our dog is so I would have a running buddy helping me get out there on the days I was too tired or too unmotivated to do it for myself. I need running to even me out so I can have the physical and mental ability to live up to the many responsibilites I face every day.

I'm proud to report that I'm back in the game again. I'm feeling better and happier and stronger, though I have a ways to go.

Four weeks ago I determined that I would go out everyday for the next four weeks, with the exception of Sunday. And I have been successful.

I started running 2 miles on 9/11. That was a Saturday. The next week I ran a little over 2 miles everyday, with a plan to run 4 on Saturday. The Artist was up early that morning and I opted to walk with her instead. That is the only day I've missed on my current running plan.

The following week I did just over 2.5 miles everyday with 5 miles on Saturday.

And the next week I ran 3+ miles everyday, with 6 on Saturday.

And today I ran 7.03 miles, after having run 3.67 miles every other day this week.

On Sundays I still get up and walk the dog, since he needs an outing, but it is a day of rest.

The scriptures teach us that our bodies are temples. I know that when we take care of our bodies by getting adequate rest and exercise and by eating well, that we are in a much better position to understand and follow the will of God in our lives. We find greater peace and happiness.

It is really hard sometimes to do the things we ought to. I have used chocolate chips to help me cope rather than thinking to pray on many an occasion. I've stayed up late watching some dumb movie to give myself a treat alone from the kids, only to pay for it when I'm too tired the next day.

But I'm learning, and hopefully my kids will be able to learn along with me how to take care of themselves. Our physical health is interdependent on our mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

Now if I could just figure out how to make that whole idea of a house of order work in my home...