Monday, October 23, 2006

Monday AM

Another photo from my trip. This one is as you head south from Clifton, which is just east of Grand Junction, CO.

Yesterday after I posted and made some phone calls, I went out for a "quick" 2 mile run. At about 1.5 miles, I decided to do 3. At 2.5 miles, I decided that I could do 5. At 5, I decided I could easily do another mile and complete a 10K for the first time since the 80s. At 6.1 miles, I forgot that a 10K is 6.2 miles, and quit running. I missed doing a 10K by .1 mile! Oh well. I still ran over 6 miles. I have not done that since the 80s, when I was in my 30s. I am a little sore this morning, but not bad for a woman in her mid-fifties!

I am so grateful to be able to do this. Like most alcoholics, I have had some health problems, including a lifelong battle with the scale. Three years ago, I could not run for 5 minutes, let alone 5 or 6 miles. When I started running, I would walk up a hill near my house, and then "run" for 5 minutes down the hill. Believe me, that was enough! It didn't help that I weighed around 200 lbs. Now I weigh considerably less than that and I can run! This is such a blessing to a woman who drank every day for 18 years, smoked 2 packs a day for 25 years, huffed aerosols in my youth(among other things), had 3 vertebrae in my neck fused with bone grafts and titanium rods just 7 years ago... I thought I would never run again. In reality, it is a miracle that I am even alive.

"Now about health: A body badly burned by alcohol does not often recover overnight nor do twisted thinking and depression vanish in a twinkling. We are convinced that a spiritual mode of living is a most powerful health restorative. We, who have recovered from serious drinking, are miracles of mental health. But we have seen remarkable transformations in our bodies. Hardly one of our crowd now shows any mark of dissipation." -- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 133

12 comments:

dAAve said...

thanks.

Amerynthe said...

Wow! From 200 lbs to running every morning? That is fantastic! I've been trying to psyche myself up to walk to work (I used to all the time but now I've got a parking space I've got lazy) but it's so much cosier to stay in bed.

Not drinking has been easier than forcing myself to exercise, so you have double my admiration now because you are doing both so very well!

Scott M. Frey said...

MC, thank you for your continued inspiration... it means alot to me... and right now I can certainly use it!

Anonymous said...

Happy Monday MC :)

Anonymous said...

You are light iwithin in so many ways, not just physical. What an inspiration you are to me MC. I am 30 and still fighting my ED. When I give this back to God, I need to get back to exercising. To hear you and your accomplishments allows me to embrace hope today.

You are awesome!

Deb said...

OMG...after reading this I need a nap!
(not really). :)

You are such a wonderful inspiration. Congratulations to you for your tremendous progress; and thank you for sharing your strength.

Shannon said...

WOW I am so glad you posted all that... now I know I can start where I am starting, (overweight in my 30's) and someday I will run 6 miles

I also love the reminder (to me) at the very end of your post thanks MC

Scott W said...

On the selfish side, I am glad you made it.

Redhead Gal said...

Wow, 6 miles, you are insane...

just kidding! what you are is an inspiration. I'm in my mid40s and feeling like I can never lose the weight and get in shape. If you can do it, maybe I can too.

Though I think running just ONE mile would satisfy me...

Mike said...

Coincidence?

I just quoted page 133. The paragraph just before this one.

Keep up the great work. I for one am glad you are alive and well and sober.

Pam Jarnagin said...

You are a freakin' miracle, woman!!!! xoxo

Ziomal said...

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