I was running and jumping!

I just want to write this bit down, because it scares me a little: I voluntarily ran today. And not just for the bus! Oh no. I ran for fitness. I think we should pause now while I resuscitate anyone who has known me any time at all. Because - I have always hated running. I've hated it ever since I was made to run around and around endlessly for the sick amusement of teachers at the primary school cross country event. And I hated it when I was playing Danish rounders or Kiwi Cricket on the field. And then, at secondary school, I hated it when we were made to participate in the Beep Test. Consider this litany of hatred merely "Ginger Hates Running: The Early Years", because many years of hating running followed. Suffice to say: I HATE RUNNING.

And yet today, there I was! Running to the Waterfront in a perky little hoodie, a woolly hat on my head and listening to Joan Jett/The Yeah Yeah Yeahs/Peaches. Woo! Go lady type! With your Athleticism! Athlete! Woo! Yeah! and such like.

what is the difference? The difference, esteemed and beloved reader mine, is LOVE. I fucking LOVE DERBY. Since I have been Loving Derby, I have seen the point of fitness and improving strength and building core mass. For the first time in my life, I get all of that stuff. I'm the fittest I've ever been and I want to be stronger, faster, have better balance and flexibility, hit harder. I've gone from a standing start and it's taken so much work and I'm so proud of myself for how far I've come in such a short amount of time. It was worth making a dick of myself and hurting myself repeatedly, and I'm stoked I stuck with it though there has been periods where I was feeling unbelievably frustrated at my (lack of) progress.

I want to be the best skater that I can be and I know that I've got so much more in me.* I guess that's why I was out running today, thinking things like "Tired? It's all in your head!" and "If you don't feel like you're going to throw up, you can push yourself waaaay further!".

*yes this is a re-post from my other blog - points for noticing!*