6 miles and getting back into the swing of things

This first week of 2013 has been the time to ease back into the real world. Mostly because I only had a two day work week and school doesn't start until next week (though there will be reading done for class this weekend). I've done a bit of sleeping, a bit of running and a bit of cleaning (among other things).

In some ways, it seems silly that just a change in year means things can be so different, but in my case, I really feel like things are different. for me, 2012 was about change - changes I made, changes forced on me, changes in priorities, changes in how I viewed things. In all of that, 2012 left me feeling like one giant open wound.

One of those changes has been running. I found myself running a 6 mile race (my longest distance ever) on New Year's Day. It didn't matter that I finished last. I finished (and I think it helped that I was being followed by the police). The following day, once I began to come out of my daze, I realized that on January 1, 2012, I would have never predicted that I would be running 6 miles, partly up a hill and partly by Lake Michigan. Even as of the morning of the race, I didn't think I could do it. I spent the rest of the day (and part of the next) in a daze that it never quite felt like I actually did it.

I can't begin to think of what it will be like for my half marathon. All I can say is that some small part of the wound that was opened in 2012 healed on New Year's Day. I know the wound that continues to heal at this point will have the Band-Aid torn off again before long, but it will get better and there will be something to help it heal a little more.

There are more changes to come in 2013, including being more supportive and loving to myself. It's not an easy thing for me and I've always struggled with it. It's not going to change overnight, and I'm always looking for ways to help get me through it.

As things get busier with work, school and running/working out this semester, I know there will be less time to think about things. And that's ok, because I feel like I have a decent foundation to make these changes throughout the year.

And who knows what is to come? I mean, I ran my longest distance ever on the first day of the year. We'll just have to see what more is in store for this year and beyond.