That's exhausting!

Yesterday, my walk started at 5:38am and ended at 6:05am. There is a section of my neighborhood that is a giant loop. From my house to that section, around the loop, and back to my house is roughly a mile.

When I started walking yesterday, there was no one on the road. A van drove past me on the loop and into the court I live on around 5:58am. I had to double over to breathe because the exhaust was so terrible. At 6:03, it left my court and again my lungs ached in exhaust fumes. I knew then that I either had to change my time or change my route and either way I would need to not be back before 6am to prevent dealing with it.

Yesterday, I turned right which is going down a hill. Today, I turned left which is flat for the first part of the loop. I had no idea how cold it would be this morning. Wearing a sports bra, tank top, and shorts was not enough for the 42 degrees. As I started to go down the hill (Towards the top of the map), I started to jog. It was a slow jog...I'm pretty sure people could lap me but it was a jog.

It's my first attempt at "jogging" in over a year. I went three mailboxes. My body warmed a bit and I was out of breath. I started walking again. About halfway through the loop, I attempted to jog again. I made it almost 6 mailboxes! As each one came into sight, I said "I can get to another one." I actually quit jogging before I was out of breath. I didn't want to press my luck. I continued my walk until I saw the final hill. I jogged UPHILL. I can't remember the last time I even attempted to run up one. I want you to know that this hill is not steep. I could ride down it with a bike and not fear for my life. It is a hill though.

I noticed something today throughout this "mailbox counting"...I didn't ache. I use to be in pain when I would run. The last time I tried, I was 305lbs. I'm only a few pounds lighter but I could tell it. My heels hurt of course but my ankles and knees didn't want to break on me. I almost wanted to do again. I actually "feel good."

I also took time off my route. Yesterday, it took me 27 minutes. Today, I started at 5:32 and returned at 5:55...that's only 23 minutes! I also missed the exhausting van which was my ultimate goal today.

OTTNOFW.