December 21st, 2014. At 10:17am. The typical cloudy New Jersey morning at a brisk 33ºF. Sunday mornings are always quiet in my town. The streets are empty and everyone seems to just be waking up. With leggings, compression socks + some low socks, Asics, a long sleeve, light cheap zip-up, cozy warm jacket, scarf, Flipbelt, sweater headband, hat, and mitten gloves, phone and Nike+ app turned on, I set out the door.

I just start running, at “Rebecca Pace”. Down the streets of my home town. Smelling the wood burning stoves and fireplaces, taking in the empty streets, and scenery I never notice before. Your town looks different when you see it not while in the car, watching it fly by out the window. I have my head turned to the left, looking at a beautiful yellow castle-like house down a long street I had never seen before, when I smell…cows? I turn my head to the right and am greeted by 2 massive cows staring back at me. That made me smile. Some random people have 2 random cows I had never seen before in their yard. I’m jealous.

I keep pushing on, ever so slowly. During this whole run, I never ever walk. I just continue on with my slow pace, never more than 12 minutes per mile. My first mile was 11:38. No shame, I am totally proud of that. I keep exploring the streets and going down side streets to see things I’ve never seen before. It isn’t even that cold, or at least the cold doesn’t both me. The girl who HATES the cold and winter started her running journey right at the start of the cold season. That is really weird…maybe I’ll have to call winter one of my favorites now? Maybe not…Read More