Fitness is an escalator

It has been 5 weeks since the Tinker Bell Half Marathon and I have yet to put my running shoes back on.  My treadmill is collecting dust and the room that it is in is become a catch all.   After I missed the 10K the week after the half. I was like oh well, I completed my half in Disneyland I deserve some time off.  After the first two weeks I had convinced myself that I would not be running again. I kind of always thought that once this was done I would be done running.  I even told hubby that I figure I may do a 5K here and there and use the treadmill for some light cardio but my training days are behind me.

The weeks have gone by and I have been the queen of maintenance, my weight only fluctuating a pound or two. However, the muscle, that was starting to be so clearly defined, in my legs is gone. My clothing is not fitting as well, my stomach seems to be growing even w/o any weight gain. I'm feeling sluggish and lazy.   I am losing everything I achieved during training.

Fitness is really like going up a downward escalator.  You know what I am talking about, admit it....you've ran up the down escalator at a department store.  How is fitness an escalator?? Think back to when you were younger and decided to run up the escalator. You were excited and took off attacking the steps. Normally this is how we all start a diet or a new exercise routine, with excitement and running full force. As you train, if your doing it right, things never get easier.  You will get faster and stronger but things won't get easier. And no mater how long you run up that downward escalator, it will not give you a break, it doesn't get easier to fight against the downward flow.  And if you take a break on one what happens????  That's right you slowly start going back down to where you started.  You stopped your work outs and you lose strength, endurance and muscles.

Now the escalator looks more daunting and difficult. You think about how hard it was and why would you want to try that again.  That is where I am right now!! My treadmill looks so daunting knowing it's about time to start all over again.  But I still think back to when I was in my running prime and that wasn't even for the Half.  It was back last June about a year ago when I had been consitant with my training and I was actually getting faster and feeling stronger.  I miss that felling.  I miss the whole progression and getting better at things. I am craving those feelings again.  Even though that escalator doesn't look like much fun this time around I must get back on it.