Running Is Harder Than It Looks

When you were a kid did you ever jump off of something - anything from a bed to a barn - thinking you could fly? In those first few seconds you believe you've pulled it off and then gravity inevitably kicks in. Of course you did. We all did.

Well, that's what running is like for me.

I start out of my driveway, and in that first minute I feel unstoppable. I have on my unnecessarily cute running clothes, my work-out playlist is cranked up, I'm taking in the view and - most importantly - someone else is watching my kid for a bit. Then my lungs speak up to remind me I have asthma and that this free-as-a-bird feeling is about to come to an end.

So despite the almost-instant letdown I keep telling myself that I love running and I am determined to make it love me back. In an effort to facilitate that romance I downloaded one of the many "Couch to 5K" apps to help whip my butt into shape. Even though the running app requires my phone I've been trolling craigslist for a cheap ipod shuffle because I hate having to hold my phone while I run. First world problem, I know.