Happy Get Real Thursday, Hit&Runners!
I've decided Thursdays are good days to get real. The weekend is coming, you have to have a strong plan, and in order to do that you need an honest assessment of your week. So welcome to Get Real Thursday, kicking off with a dazzling Guest Blog!
This weekend is my first race of the season, but much more importantly, the first race EVER of two of our very own Hit&Runners, Abbie and Karen. Both ladies are running their local major league baseball team's 5K (Abbie the Phillies 5K and Karen the Angels) and both of them trained using Couch to 5K. I got this email from Karen addressed to me and several other of her wonderful tribe of friends and family, and asked her if I could share what she wrote. I think many of you will find it to ring very true in your own hearts, no matter what level of training you are in right now. Enjoy, and let us know of your own joys and/or struggles!
Today there were many "excuses" NOT to run:
I've decided Thursdays are good days to get real. The weekend is coming, you have to have a strong plan, and in order to do that you need an honest assessment of your week. So welcome to Get Real Thursday, kicking off with a dazzling Guest Blog!
This weekend is my first race of the season, but much more importantly, the first race EVER of two of our very own Hit&Runners, Abbie and Karen. Both ladies are running their local major league baseball team's 5K (Abbie the Phillies 5K and Karen the Angels) and both of them trained using Couch to 5K. I got this email from Karen addressed to me and several other of her wonderful tribe of friends and family, and asked her if I could share what she wrote. I think many of you will find it to ring very true in your own hearts, no matter what level of training you are in right now. Enjoy, and let us know of your own joys and/or struggles!
Today there were many "excuses" NOT to run:
1. Late night last night
2. Terrible cramps today
3. Pre-storm, very windy weather
4. Stressful last week
5. Lots to do for the upcoming week
6. Big event next weekend
7. Blah, blah, blah
BUT, those excuses didn't exist for me today. Today I got dressed, went out in the less than ideal weather, and ran 2.11 miles in 25 minutes, in the wind, without stopping. And I was strong the whole time.
What I've found is that, excuses about running don't seem to exist anymore. Oh, I think of them... they pop into my head... but now when they come to mind, I sort of laugh to myself... laugh AT the voices that list them. It's as if I'm aware that I don't have to "fall" for it. I actually "call bullshit" on those thoughts. :) I just decide... I'm running or I'm not. Period. End of story. Nothing else plays into it.
That is, nothing plays into the mere FACT of me running or not running. I either do it, or I don't... it's simple!
The MOTIVATION, however, is a completely different thing. That is facilitated by a plethora of recent life changes (all self-imposed) that you are all aware of. My MOTIVATION to run each day is because Armida asked a question on our family's FB page. "Anyone want to run the Disneyland Half Marathon with me on September 4th?" My first response? "I'd love to think I could do that." But, my second response was quickly..." wait! why not? It's months away." And I started to research. Then I asked the question of Andi, "Am I crazy to think I could be ready to do this?" Her answer? "No, not at all." As a running coache, she quickly recommended several things, including the Couch to 5K program. Today, I finished week 7 of this 9 week program, and I am scheduled to run my first 5K a week from today, one week before I complete the C25K program! This is a step towards being ready for the half in September, my MOTIVATION to run.
But, something happened to me today as I finished my 2 miles of running: An overwhelmingly strong wave of emotion came over me. Having struggled with this assignment the last two times (had to walk a minute or two at the halfway point), I had started to feel discouraged. So, at this moment, I felt absolutely triumphant. Melodramatic? Maybe. But accurate, nonetheless. At that moment, a flood of emotion was just THERE... it arrived without warning. And, part of its beauty was that each and every one of you women were a part of it, filling my mind and my heart. I felt you all with me.
What I learned in this moment was this: Even MOTIVATION needs to be fueled... and, for me, what fuels my motivation is INSPIRATION and ENCOURAGEMENT. You each INSPIRE and ENCOURAGE me in ways you may never know and I may never be able to express... Your presence in my current journey is palpable.
Thank you all... for being a part of it... emotionally. It gets me through.
No, Karen...thank YOU. Thank you for sharing your heart and letting Hit&Runners be a part of your journey. You're right where you need to be, and working from the outside in your light, which has always been brighter, is shining even brighter from the inside out!
GO GO GO!
Coach Andi
No, Karen...thank YOU. Thank you for sharing your heart and letting Hit&Runners be a part of your journey. You're right where you need to be, and working from the outside in your light, which has always been brighter, is shining even brighter from the inside out!
GO GO GO!
Coach Andi
I needed this, as my feet are freezing from the thought of my first 5K in two days!
ReplyDeleteThe shin splints are nagging and may cause me to walk for me than I'd like to, but a friend shared a great quote: "no matter how slow you are, you're still lapping everyone on the couch."
I'm taking that with me to Broad Street on Saturday - even if I'm #3000 in a field of just as many, I still will finish!