...I was so excited to 'beat' ground with Cait outdoors. We haven't had the chance to run outside since the end of September. It was a bit surprising to us I must admit. The cold air makes your breaths sharper, tiring your chest that much faster. Not to mentiom running against the wind hurt our ears, our lungs...sh*t, our ENTIRE body!!! We had started a routine of running at least 4 sometimes 5 days together back in August. It was a great rush of nature and usually brought lots of sunshine!
I remember it being a huge challenge for me physically trying to keep up to her when we first started. Sometimes I even made reference to her being like Jillian Micheals. But the persistence of self accomplishment allowed me to get into the groove and push farther every time we ran. Definitely feeling like I can keep up now (insert winky face).
Today it felt so good to drag myself out of the house and over to the gym before the sun woke up. The run almost always starts easy, especially when I haven't been for a few days or even a week. It's like my body is fully rested and excited to get started. Then about 6 or 7 minutes in I start the 'self talk'. Telling myself only 13 or 14 more minutes and I can walk for a bit. Rest up. Makes me like a 1/4 of the way there. Ugh!!! That's it!!! Then I look at the mile clocker...which reveals a much different story. Still a lot longer than that dear Shanon. I continue to tell myself it 'pays' to keep going...it's rewarding...it's keeping me healthy...active...happy...self aware! But my body retaliates saying...I'm tired...I'm breathing heavier...I'm getting weak! Trying not to cave in to my negative thoughts is hard. Sometimes I continue with my self talk, sometimes I turn the volume up on the iPod and JUST LET GO. Hoping the burning will dissipate and the breaths will get lighter. And to my surprise every time, it does.
As long as I reach my personal goal today I know I will feel GOOD! GREAT! SUCCESSFUL!
I'm by no means a marathon runner...would definitely love to do some 5 or 10k runs this year as a challenge to myself...test my timing...my endurance. That would be fun!
I can't wait to run outside in the warm weather again...feeling the morning sunshine because the afternoon sun usually makes you sweat like a pig. Cait and I tried that once... Bad idea!
Oh and today an uninvited blister added itself to my heel. First one of 2012. Reminder that I have to start somewhere (as I did back in August)...and today it was on the treadmill.
Love this! I wish Cait could whip my ass into shape too!
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous of you having the choice to run outside... its so wet and sloppy here all winter it makes for gross running conditions. It's easier to make excuses not to go when it's like this!
Keep it up - I know it always gets easier!
p.s do you know of "The Daily Mile"? great motivator!