They were the words I used to dread more than anything a couple times a week for years. “Let’s start with three laps” or “Go run your three laps and if you cut corners you have to run four laps.” I didn’t feel like I was slow, but everyone always seemed to beat me. By the end of just three laps, I’d be practically panting and feel a sweat coming on. I’m pretty sure that even now if I had to run three laps with those same people, I’d be panting and sweating by the end of it.

Then there came the two days of the year that were the only thing worse than three laps: physical fitness tests and the mile run. One year I think I cheated because my teacher lost count of my laps, and at that point I don’t think I was counting anymore, I just went until she said stop. Then there were the kids who would run extra to the slow ones (such as myself) to “cheer” them on to the finish. Did you know that having some skinny fast kids run next to you does not make you run faster? It makes you pray harder that Jesus would come back at that very moment, but it does not make you run any faster.

My mom would tell me to go try running because she was the kind of runner whose warm-up was a couple miles... I said she was nuts to think I would ever run. But some day I must have either lost my mind, thought that someone was chasing me, or maybe I was filled with so much anger that my response was…...running. On my own free will. I don’t remember how much I ran, but I know that my body was not accustomed to running on the road because afterward my body was on fire. I had shin splints, my hips felt like they were burning for days, I could barely move after that. I have no idea why, but I tried it again.

Roughly two-three years later, the crazy thing is that now when there is a beautiful day in front of me, my body’s natural response is to go run. I even run an hour after I eat dinner sometimes. It’s weird. I am not a graceful runner. I am not aiming for a half-marathon. The most I’ve ever run was 3 ½ miles and my body was maxed out, but I have come a long way from dreading three laps around a gym.

Recently someone told me how much she hates running and, in her exact words, “running is stupid.” I hear ya. I used to be that girl, too. Granted, this person is dealing with more excess weight than I ever did, but everyone has to start somewhere. Sure, it’s always nice when weight loss happens as a result of running or any form of exercise, but weight loss should only be a byproduct of exercise. Running is now a way for me to feel better about life, to be proud of myself for doing it, and it makes me want to eat healthier because it’s hard to run with crap in your stomach, and you feel like crap when you eat crap after you run. True story.

So never swear off a specific exercise. Someday when you’re ready, you will try it, and if you’re like me, you’ll even learn to like it.