Anna, Editorial Assistant

On Tuesday, I walked to run practice, as per usual. When I got there and changed into my running gear, I just didn't feel good--I had a blister on my foot, was more than a little distracted by a lot of nagging things that I need to get done, and it was cold. I was about to walk out without going to practice at all when one of the employees at the running shop where I leave my stuff stopped me. He asked where I was going, and I told him the truth (that spending the hour in the Border's next door browsing through the magazine rack sounded MUCH more appealing). Instead of letting me go, he took my jacket hostage and told me I had to at least try for 2 minutes--if I still wasn't feeling it, I could leave AND he would give me my jacket back.

So, I didn't really have too much of a choice and headed outside. I ended up only running about 2 and a half miles before stopping--I honestly still didn't feel great and couldn't get my mind off my blister, the cold or all the tasks I still had left to do. I'm glad I went out and I'm also glad I listened to my body--I know it wasn't a failure not to go the full five miles and that something is better than nothing. Generally, I think I will apply this sort of thinking to all of my workout routines: if I'm on the fence about going out or not, I'll get changed and begin. If I honestly still don't feel good, then I can totally take the day off, guilt free.