I...is for Intermediate

As in...I consider myself an intermediate runner, as opposed to a beginner.  I started running 8 months ago and could barely run for a minute...beginner and total newbie!

A beginner is someone who has just started to put feet to the ground, moving faster than a walk.

An intermediate runner is someone who can comfortably run/jog for at least 30 minutes non-stop.

What is the difference between a runner and a jogger? Not a lot in my opinion...they are both running, one is just running at a slower pace.  I am a runner, not a jogger...and I'll try to explain it.  When I leave the house I don't say, "I'm going out for a jog", I say, "I'm going for a run".  When I am out there I do speed work, hill repeats, tempo runs and fartlek runs. (This  is a great article on the difference, if you believe there is one.)

I'm a runner and I wear running gear, it may look fashionable but it serves a purpose besides making me look adorable.  My shoes don't just look awesome, they keep my feet, ankles and knees aligned. I own a pair of Asics trail shoes and two pair of Danskin athletic shoes.  (I have yet to have my feet analyzed by a professional, but maybe someday when I feel it is absolutely necessary.)  My compression wear also helps me to run faster, farther and better. 

 Here are some great reasons for wearing compression wear while running...Running compression tights and similar garments for other sports are quite different to medical compression stockings, although they work in a similar way. They are designed to provide the best support to the muscles of the legs and lower body, thus minimizing the chance of a muscle injury occurring. They are also designed to aid the flow of blood and the oxygen supply to the lower body and extremities, as well as reducing lactic acid build up. The chances of varicose veins and other leg conditions is reduced. The ultra supportive nature of compression socks, tights and shorts has been found to aid athletic performance and recovery noticeably.  

Everything I wear has a usefulness besides looking good, even my socks.

So now you see, I'm an Intermediate runner...and this isn't just something I do once in awhile, it's what I've become...I run! Here you can follow me on my new running blog I Survived & Now I Run

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

I is for...Interests

I have a lot of interests. One of them is…Reading, I devour books, I don’t just read them. Right now I am reading 3 books plus the Bible. John Grisham’s The Appeal is so far a fantastic read, though I am only 76 pages in. Also, I am reading Susan Meissner’s A Seahorse in the Thames; an awesome read…this is my second time through. The characters in the book meet in a seemingly normal way but become involved in each others lives in a strange and captivating way.

Next is Elizabeth Gilbert’s eat, pray, love…So far so good, but again I am only 76 pages in. Hmmm…seems to be a pattern going here. The Bible is something I am reading constantly, not every day, or even every week, but continually reading throughout my life. Right now I am doing a new reading plan called The Survey Bible Reading Plan…I am on day 10, and it is an interesting way to read through the Bible I must say.

Another interest in my life is Crafts. I like to make things pretty and fun, like these flower pens here, and painted rocks here . I just like to be creative when the mood hits. My mom says she does not know where I got my craftiness from, because it certainly wasn’t from her (her words, not mine), but I think she is more creative than she gives herself credit for.


Movies are also an interest for me. My favorite movie of all time is The Wizard of Oz, followed closely by It’s a wonderful life, and any movie with Danny Kaye, Frank Sinatra in it.  Another great movie is Gone with the Wind, and The North and The South; I also love all of the old Shirley Temple movies. Some of my favorite more modern ones are, The Harry Potter Series, The Bourne Movies, and A few good men. I also like Sleepless in Seattle, as well as Hope Floats.


These are a few of my favorite things….la...di…da…da...da…di…da…da. I truly hope ya’ll enjoyed my post on the letter I. Now go on over to tossing it out and check out some more blogs!