Just do it!

Running makes you feel good; Fact!

I don't buy Nike but I have always been a fan of their slogan, "Just Do It!"

I needed something to do this afternoon because I had spent all moring leisurely working on projects around the house. I needed a break of scenery and some activity. I thought about going for a run...I have not been running in a while and knew a run would do me well. But I did not want to run. A little more time in front of a computer screen flipping between projects and I decided to suck it up and "Just do it!"

So I did. I got my running shorts and shoes on and headed out.

It was great to get out and I would have to say it was an odd sensation after finishing; I felt exhausted and rejuvenated at the same time.

I was not sure where I wanted to run when I left the house but I turned right at the gate and headed toward the river. I decided to wait at the light (which is not something I often do) to go across the bridge instead of running along the north side of the river. I ran across the river and followed a walking path down off the bridge to a river parkway with a running and biking path along it. It was nice to have drinking fountains every so often along the path as I failed to bring any water with me. After a short while along the path I decided it was time to head back, but I could either turn around and go back the way I came or hop on the bridge in front of me and head back on the other side of the river. I am not one for going back the way I came so I ran the little bit farther to Dongho-daegyo (big bridge)...and then I saw the steps! The path off the Hannam-daegyo was a gradual ramp, this one was steps, and they went straight up.

I was committed at this point so I climbed the steps and started my way across the bridge. After a moment to recover I continued my run but the traffic on the bridge was super slow so I decided it would be adventurous and would help my balance to run on the top of the guard rail instead of on the sidewalk. If I hadn't decided to do that I probably would have walked the entire length of the bridge. It was exciting and I am sure I got a lot of strange looks from the passing Koreans. (There was a fender-bender on the bridge and that is why the traffic was slow.)

When I made my decision to go across the Dongho-daegyo I thought about the path that I would probably have to take to get back home but I did not think at all about the GIGANTIC hill that was between the other side of the bridge and the house. At this point my run turned more into a saunter. I also did not think about there not being any more drinking fountains the rest of the way home. At the bottom of said hill I saw a Baskin-Robbins and thought "Ooo! I could go for an ice cream!" But I figured I didn't need any ice cream... and then I thought about the Jamba Juice near the house that I would pass going this way and that gave me a little extra charge. It still took me one or two stops to get up the hill but after that it was non-stop to Jamba Juice. It was a refreshing end to an exhausting run. Mmmm! I love Jamba Juice and was happy to discover a few here in Seoul.

I walked the rest of the way home enjoying my cool refreshing smoothie and hopped into a much needed cold shower upon getting there.

There is always an adventure to write about if you get up and Just Do It!