Start running.
Step two…
There is no step two!
I think this might be my favorite running quote from the running genius, Barney Stinson 
Clearly I am really fond of his training techniques. Ha!
All jokes aside, I set out on an 8 mile training run this morning. This was my first real training run in… um…. awhile?! Because I am so awesome, I forgot pretty much everything I need to do a regular run. Well, everything I thought I needed anyways. My Garmin, handheld water bottle and sunglasses. I ended up being just fine without them though so I guess they were not as essential as I thought they would be!
Since I ran 8 miles in my parents area last year, I just set out on that route again with plans to turn around earlier if needed. I’m not 100% sure it was 8 miles and I don’t really know how long it took me but I followed Barney’s words of awesomness and finished! Step one, start running.
Wait for it…
I’ve gotten really dependent on the walking breaks on my long runs which has really helped me but today I wanted to just start running and run all the way. I think I’ve taken the walking break thing a little too much to heart and as soon as running turns 2% challenging, I walk. Well, today, I got out of my own head and just ran. And you know what? It was just fine. Even with the hills, by just putting one foot in front of the other and not letting any of my thoughts get me down about not having everything I usually have, I still made it and actually really enjoyed it! (I was a little overdressed but I guess it couldn’t be a perfect run, right?)
It’s amazing how much your head can mess with your running game. I was in the depths of this for most of this year but now that I am working more at getting back to when running was just fun, it seems like it’s going much better. Not having my long run essentials this morning could have really messed with my head and talked me into skipping this run, running less, having a bad run, etc. (Luckily, that was not the case but I think I’ll still try to remember by stuff next time 
)
Now I am going to spend the rest of the day watching my newest addiction TV show, Friday Night Lights. Clearly I am a little late to this party but I am LOVING it so far. Kyle Chandler from Early Edition + Connie Britton from another new favorite of mine, Nashville + written and produced by Jason Katims = Awesome!
Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t lose. – Eric Taylor
