Slumping

          I've been pretty excited about the success I've had since I started a jogging routine at the beginning of January.  I was convinced that my new shoes were magic.  By the middle of February and I was able to consistently run my three mile-ish route three days a week, without stopping to walk.  I felt like I would be ready for a 5K at the beginning of summer.
          Then I started having off days.  I couldn't even make it through my short route without walking most of the way.  That had only happened once in January after sharing a bottle of wine with a friend the night before, but this time I couldn't figure out what had gone awry.  After the first bad day, I reminded myself that everyone has off days.  Unfortunately, my next run was also difficult.  Once again, I had to walk much of the way.  After doing so well for almost six weeks, it disappointing.  It kept happening until I'd accumulated five bad runs in a row.  Since I only run three times a week, that's almost two weeks of sloppy jogging.
          I felt like I'd been fooling myself.  I was thinking that I was too old to begin running, and that those last six weeks were a fluke.  I was going to tell my niece that I didn't want to run a 5K after all.  I really wanted to quit and each time I forced myself out on the road, I felt like I was wasting my time.
   Today was a run day and I dreaded it all day long.  When I got home from work I put on my shoes, sweats and a tee shirt and headed out.  My knees began bothering me almost immediately but I tried to stay relaxed and I kept going.  After a couple of blocks, I started to feel better, or at least I wasn't feeling bad and that was encouraging.  I kept going and I did it.  I ran my entire route at a pace I was happy with.  Perhaps I had made it through the slump.
          This Wednesday when I go out for my jog, I might have a good run or I might have a not so good run, but either one is okay.  If it's not so good, I'll remind myself that it happens like that sometimes.  If it's good, I'll enjoy it.  Above all, I will try to remember to take it one jog at a time.