Now that obligatory startup bit is over, I’d like to talk about running.

This picture (by mrhayata) is sadly not me, but it captures how running makes me feel. I started with a beginners’ group about three months ago (I always seem to get on better with hard stuff if I join groups) and after wheezing my way to a 30 second trot in week one, I am now entering my first 5K run in, ooh, about two weeks’ time.

I’m pretty scared, but also excited. Running is great, for me – at this stage, there’s measurable progress each and every time I run. I manage things now I don’t think I could ever have done. I get off the treadmill or return home and suddenly think wow, I ran for twenty-five minutes straight or wow, that was Arthur’s Seat or other such things. Sure, by my marathon-running flatmate’s standards, I’m barely even walking, but it’s still — shiny numbers going up, progress, and achievement. Microrewards are definitely how I motivate, and why I run.