Starting January 2011, I decided I wanted to start running. I needed a focus for my running so I signed up for a half marathon program at Fleet Feet Sports in Schererville, Indiana. Every Saturday morning at 9am, despite the temperature and weather conditions, I was at Fleet Feet without fail. I missed two Saturday runs. One because I overslept and the other because I was sick. I ran my way through the winter and right into the summer. We didn’t have much of a spring as far as temperatures goes in 2011. I completed my half marathon race in early May.

I took three weeks off and then started training for Chicago marathon. I trained through the summer heat and humidity and ran Chicago marathon on October 9, 2011.

I ran another race in November in Chicago called the Hot Chocolate 15k.

After those races I needed a break. My body didn’t so much need a break. My mind needed a break. Sometimes doing the same thing over and over and over can get redundant just like saying over and over and over can be.

I was talking with my running buddy last week and we both discovered that neither of us had really run since we did our last race in November. I’ve run a few times on the treadmill since then and so had she. We both agreed that we were a little burned out from running so much, that we needed a break and the break were taking has been nice.

When January rolled around this year I thought about signing up for another half marathon program again but I wasn’t ready so I decided not to. I just wasn’t into it. If don’t want to do something then I won’t fully commit to it. I don’t believe in doing something half way. If my heart’s not in it then I won’t take it seriously. I chose not to sign up.

I haven’t been sitting on the couch eating bonbons and rotting in front of the television by any means. I’ve been going to the gym about 4 to 5 times a week. I’ve been doing a lot of swimming in the pool and kick boxing classes at the gym. I’ve been doing some strength training and biking. I also do yoga every Thursday. The change and variety has been so nice! I feel mentally refreshed. Physically my body is stronger from all of the cross training I’ve been doing.

As I was driving to work the other morning I realized it’s nearly March and the weather will start to get nice again. I realized I’m ready to get out of the gym and back on the road for some fresh air. Fresh air and exciting scenery is something you do not get in the gym. I’m going to ease my way back into running by running a 5k in March at the Indiana Dunes called Ringing in Spring. In May I’m signing up for a duathlon (12 mile bike ride and 5k run). I’m going to be purchasing a bike in April and will be riding on the bike trails around Northwest Indiana which I’m really excited about! I’m going to do some triathlons over the summer and early fall. Afterwards I will be training for the Disney marathon.

The variety has been nice. I’ve discovered some new sports and realized that there’s more out there than just running. Stepping away from the running and taking a break from it made me appreciate it more and want to go back to it because I’ve had a chance to miss it. Moving forward I’m looking forward to mixing it with other things like biking and swimming!

Change is good. Changing things up is good for you mentally and physically. If something is burning you out, take a step back or take a break from it. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. In my case, absence made me go running back to what I missed!

Sara