I didn't, but I did!

So, I'm busted. I did not walk on the treadmill today. I decided to walk outside instead. I will do almost anything to avoid the dreaded treadmill...even walk just over 7 miles round trip to pick up my son from school. It was long, it was tough, and I will admit that at the point where I normally turn to do my 1.5 mile lap I seriously considered just doing that then driving to pick up my son. Then when we reached a park that I know is roughly a mile from my house I again thought "If I turn back now, I will still get 2 miles in, and be able to drive to pick him up." But I persevered and passed the park, thus reaching the point of no return. I left the house at 1:35, and know that I walk roughly a 20 minute mile (hey...give me a break, I'm pushing a stroller with two kids in it and am still very out of shape) so I really just had to hit the halfway point, at which I knew that if I turned and walked back home I would most likely be late to pick him up.

It really actually helped to have my daughter with me to talk to and distract me. My youngest just enjoyed the scenery and even took a little nap along the way. In all, we made it there and back and I am still alive. Though, the look on his teacher's face when she saw me all red faced and sweaty was nearly priceless. I was too tired to be embarrassed, I just wanted to grab my son, turn and keep walking for fear that if I stopped for too long I would have to call my husband to come and get me.

There are blisters on my ankles, and my legs are already sore, but beyond that I have this immense feeling of accomplishment. It may have taken me 2+ hours to do it, but I did it. And I want to do it again. Sadly my schedule and 3 extra kids on some days wont allow for me to make the trek to my son's school on a regular basis, but I can suck it up and walk the treadmill. I don't have to do the full 7 miles all at once, and tomorrow will most likely split it up into at least 2 if not 3 chunks to make it a little more bearable. The main point is that I have set a bar for myself, and now I need to reach it every day. Because I can, because I should, and because I owe it to myself and my family to be healthy and happy.

I may have been thoroughly exhausted when I came home today, but I was happy. And it showed.