I pledge

I , Knoonell, pledge to get up an hour earlier every day this week.  Further I pledge to get out and run/walk for at least 30 minutes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of this week.  What's more, I promise to make a similar pledge next Monday for the following week.

There, I did it.  I have also already met my commitment for today.  I got up and ran/walked this morning while all the kids were recovering from their active weekend.  Now I just have to pray that I don't face rain, cold, earthquake or any other distraction in the next seven days to drag me off course once again.

I have been wanting to get back to a good running habit again for a long time.  But I know I usually don't fare weel without a good accountability partner, one who will not accept any of my excuses when I really just don't want to run.  I haven't been able to find one since I moved to VA.  SO I decided that I will just depend on my online friends and family to encourage and cajole as necessary.  Did you hear that?  I am giving you a job.  Hopefully as I continue, I will find an actual running buddy as I progress.  I've never been good at running alone.  I get bored and end up thinking how good it would feel you just go back home and have a cup of coffe on the front porch.

If there is anyone out there who is interested in joining me in my efforts, here is my long term plan.  This week I started off easy.  I ran 1 minute and walked two, repeating 10 times.  This week is all about just getting out of bed and getting outside.  Next week I will ramp it up only a bit, running 2 and walking 4, repeating 5 times.  After that it will take me about 9 more weeks to get to a 30 minute run, following the First Steps plan at Runners' World.  I will reward my self today for just getting started by replacing the battery in my ugly-but-functional runner's watch.  After that I plan to reward myself well after every successful week.

If anyone would like to join me, let me know.  Serious applicants only.  I don't want or need any excuses.  I will e-kick your butt when you need it but I also will need you to e-kick mine every once in a while.

By the way, I attribute this spontaneous ambition to all the runners' pheremones I was exposed to over the weekend at my parents.  You know who you are.  Thanks!