Taking Out the Trash Run

That's what I named last night's run. Basically since Sunday evening, I had been some sort of wannabe-crazy-hormonal-who-knows-what woman. I had been feeling grumpy, emotional, even downright bitchy, and I couldn't put my finger on it. While talking to PJ, he said I needed to run because I start to head on a downward spiral if I don't run for a while. I thought to myself, "I just ran on...Friday. Crap." Normally, I have a soccer game to add in sprints/intervals between run days. We didn't have a game this past weekend. No wonder I had all this "trash" building up. After prepping food for meals, I went out and ran. I told myself slow and steady, at least try for 3-4 today. After all, I do have a 5K race in 2.5 weeks. I started out at an easy pace and cranked up the playlist. Everything was great: the weather, the music, even my legs with screaming shins. My head started to clear and I felt myself start to even out, climb back on kilter, so to speak. I started approaching my 1.135 mile marker. Now, on my "straight shot" runs, this is where I turn around and head home for a total of 2.27 miles. In my head, I had this conversation:

"I can turn around now and make this an easy run, or I can turn right and go for a 3 mile minimum. I could save my legs and add mileage later this week.

I have a 5K coming up. I need to up the mileage and get used to the 3+ miles again. I REALLY want to run a 10K or 15k or even a half by September end. I MUST add this mileage. I have no choice but to turn right."

Here's where I dropped of my "first load of trash", or my excuses for not pushing myself harder. I turned right and went head on into the wind for some so-called trail running, which is actually a 0.5 mile of ditch running instead of running on the small road. The next mile was quite uneventful. I pushed on, slow and steady, and felt like my mental trash was dissipating. I began to feel normal.

I had about a 1/2 mile until I reached home; down the top of the hill I was on and up the next to the top of the hill I lived on. My legs wavered. I kept my pace until the last climb up. The somewhat gradual incline looked like a mountain to me. All I could tell myself was "come on" over and over, every three steps. Then, there it was. I crested the hill and saw my last bit of mileage, the .02 of my 3.02 miles. I finished sprinting (and smiling) that last tenth of a mile, taking out the last of the trash.

Surprise kid-free night

Having my very active boys swept away for the evening always surprises me. Everything I could do, should do, want to do, shoots through my mind. Often enough I end up catching up on housework, laundry, emails, and movies. Last night I took advantage of amazing weather 70° at half past 7 p.m. and ran my ass off. I took no gear, not even my tunes (yes, Sarah W. I know you're reading this with jaw agape), and ran. I ran a simple route, my favorite straight shot ALL the way down my long, hilly street and back. An easy, peasy 2.27 miles that I've been conquering on all levels since January 2009. My favorite part: running into the sunset, remembering how awesome my neighborhood looks filled with bluebonnets and wildflowers. My only regret: Not having a camera with me. Guess I'll have to run it again soon. *smiles*

Coming up with a plan.

The last couple of weeks I've debated putting one of my loves on hold to train for two dreams. I nearly gave up playing soccer to accomplish half and full marathons. Thanks to my running moms group, they helped me talk through the fear of giving up something I love, yes this is true, as much as my family. Through a discussion with them, these awesome ladies helped show me modification and finding balance (a struggle in everything I do) within my two training schedules to keep playing the field, quite literally, and to train for my goals.

Now I sit and plan through multiple calendars to pull it all into on large calendar for everyone to see! I think I may need something like this.


Here's to the planning stages!

There is no "Y" in Running

Found from I <3 to Run's Facebook page

...WHATEVER. THERE ARE NO TRICKS.
Run because you have to.
Run because you love it.
Run because you want to be fast.
Run because you want to be skinny.
Run to find some quiet time.
Run to sweat.
Run to eat.
Run hear your heart pound in your ears.
Run because you're a runner.
Run because you gotta keep the streak.
Run because you don't know why the hell you're running.
Run because you fought with your partner.
Run because your job is sh#tty.
Run because you got no money.
Run for the sunrise.
Run for a race.
Run because it's impossible.
Run because it's easy.
Run instead of doing the laundry.
Run instead of watching TV.
Run because no one else understands.
Run because the cool kids do it.
Run because you're tired of talking.
Run for numbers.
Run for feel.
Run to prove something.
Run because it f#@king hurts.

Or don't run. If you got something better to do.

Pace and Positive Motivation

Tuesday evening, I went out and ran my scheduled run. First I must say, I AM NOT an evening runner. I prefer pre-dawn or at dawn runs, period. Yet, I run when I can and try to not make excuses. Secondly, despite fighting a couple months of laziness and lovely Texas spring winds, my morale plummeted...quickly. I kept thinking about my pace and endurance, both of which has gone awry since December/January. All I could think about while doing my Galloway style intervals was: "I must pick up my pace. I must last. I have a race in 4 weeks."

I finished my run strong, not proud of my pace though. I then twisted my ankle stepping down stairs. The injury is slight, but in order to play in my soccer game on Sunday, rest for the days until then is required. I again thought about my pace and upcoming race (oooh! rhyme).

I logged onto Daily Mile today to post about my ankle, and I then read the #dailymission was all about motivation. As I read through post after post of motivation, I saw this:



This saying said it all for me. No matter my 14 minute+ pace right now, I'm still faster than everyone sitting watching T.V. or choosing to not do anything. This picked up my spirits like nothing else. I choose to get out there and run.

Back on Track

2011 so far has shown me that life can surely throw kinks in the even the best intended and determined of people. I've barely ran this year; not even 5 miles in regular runs. (I don't count soccer games/practices in my mileage) Apparently I've gotten really good at excuses this year though, oh, and the blame game. You know, blaming anything and everything for why I cannot get out and run. To top it off, I got angry about it too; my temper reflected exactly one of the reasons I run.



Well, no more. At least not today. Lol. Thanks to my great group of online mom runners, I got my ass out and ran a virtual Shamrock 5K challenge. I was "supposed to dress up", but even the socks I bought just for this came off due to tightness. :) But here's to pounding out a 5K, after work, on one of the funnest holidays ever.

Dreams

Between New Year's and Martin Luther King, Jr. day, January gives plenty of opportunities to make you think about your dreams. This year I shunned making resolutions and gave it all to follow dreams; dreams I've put on the wayside and dreams newly realized.

Dreams of becoming a journalist/author that makes a difference somehow, some way with words written by my own hand. Dreams of becoming a strong woman making an honest impact on people I meet, know, and love. Dreams of one day running a marathon, perhaps even Boston or NYC one day. Dreams of being an awesome mom that provides, nurtures and raises two boys into two independent, loving gentlemen. Dreams of loving myself to where loving another only adds another amazing dimension to the life I lead.

Some days I wake up with new dreams racing over and over in my mind. Other days I have one dream that keeps me focused and pushing through the day. I hope we are all pushed by dreams to keep us progressing forward for change and to become the people we envision ourselves to be in our dreams.