The first run is the hardest...I hope...

I should have walked.

No, I don't mean I should have walked instead of ran this afternoon, although my legs are vindictively causing me pain each step after my first run in about a month and a half.

When on the rare occasion I drive up to 1300 East to start my intended 6 mile run (which I haven't done in quite some time) because of limited time, I usually keep my car door unlocked and the keys under the seat. Imagine my surprise coming back, exhausted beyond belief, to find my car door wouldn't budge. I always lock my door. Why wouldn't I this time?

The run was supposed to be a return to my summer of running 6.8 miles on a route traveling up and down the hills of Salt Lake City. A month and a half off from running to anything farther than the donut shop apparently had a negative effect on what actually happened. Maybe a half-mile into my run and I was already gasping for breath.

Sweaty and tired, I walk back to my car

Photo credit: Tyler Cobb

I made it 2, maybe 3 miles (and that's a kind estimation really) as I cut as many corners as possible to make it back to my car.

3 things I've learned:

1) I'm crazy - where's a treadmill when you need one to avoid this inversion-infested air....yuck...
2) Never mind the treadmill. I should've turned on the Xbox 360 and kicked butt at Ghost Recon instead, or even Rock Band.
3) Just as I was coming to the conclusion that I'm too out of shape to run again, I saw a woman and her dog run by on the other side of the street. She was in such great shape, I could feel the green-eyed monster boil within me.

I even talked to her for a sec as we were running. Carrie Johnson, who runs four times a week with her dog, said, "It's sometimes hard running with Lucky (her dog), but it gives us both such great exercise."

And at that moment I concluded that my lungs and legs would just have to take the strain, because I'm going to get in shape or die trying.

Maybe...

I've also thought about diversifying the run. Trying to head by Liberty Park, which is a popular running/biking/spending quality time with the kids spot. Salt Lake runner Ben Trenton said he loves running around Liberty Park.

"It's the best, especially in the fall with the leaves coming down," he said.

Oh, and if you're wondering about the car door? I ran down the street four blocks for my cell phone to call AAA. They came and rescued me out of a situation. I was late to work and sore to boot. Fabulous...