This is a post by Kristin Armstrong from her Mile Markers blog on the Runner's World website. I could relate to it, so I thought I woud re-post it. I hope I don't get in trouble for re-posting it without permission.
Still on the topic of WHY I RUN, a major reason is to 'shake it off.' Shake what off, you ask? No, you don't ask, because you already KNOW. Because, I bet, you are doing it too.
Here is what I shake off:
My foul mood.
A lousy night sleep.
Indecision.
An unsettling phone call.
A hangover.
Tight legs from the gym.
Feelings of inadequacy.
PMS, see also: My foul mood.
Travel funk, including jetlag or just general airplane odor.
A cold (I mean, I could feel lousy enough to debate getting out of bed, yet somehow after a run I can breathe and find a reason to go on.).
Spiritual malaise.
Parenting pressure.
A day of decadent eating.
Relationship quandry.
Routine.
Allergies.
An argument.
Doubt.
A mistake.
Germy children.
Limitations, self -imposed or otherwise.
Lack of gratitude.
Constraints.
Excuses.
Fog.
Sound familiar?
A run is detox for the soul, it is my 'reset' button, it is my emotional chiropractor causing everything else to clack-clack-clack-clack back into proper place and perspective. Things that are tight somehow loosen up, and things that are loose somehow tighten up. I emerge better, more than sweat washes off in the shower afterwards. Time flies and stands still all at once, just like holding a baby. When I think I have no time to get out there, or that taking time to run could be the most selfish thing to do in that moment, my feet start slapping the pavement and my lungs fill with air and I remember once again, just like always, that there is nothing selfish about being clean. It's one thing that allows me to be everything I need to be for everyone else and not resent it. With so many time constraints and limits and rules and routines in the hectic pace of daily life, we need another place where we set our own pace, even if it's just for 5 miles. We need a simple and acceptable route to freedom.
Good morning everyone! I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post! I have been so slack lately!! Time to get myself back on track with posting here.
Saturday I ran my first 10K, and what an awesome experience it was! The proceeds from the race go to a foundation called Jay's Hope, which is a local group formed by a family who lost their son to childhood cancer. They raise money to help families who are staying at the children's hospital here in Macon, and to help the kids and the families through very difficult times. Check out the website at www.jayshope.org.
SOOOO, here is my story: I woke up early Saturday morning, and then woke up my 2 older girls (16 and 13) who I had bought a box of cheez-it to bribe them to go with me (I needed someone to take pictures, right?) and then woke up my youngest daughter, who had decided that she also wanted to go. My son woke up early, but he hadn't wanted to go... It was just his birthday and he was excited about his party. Before we left, he decided to go too!
So, I left the house at about 6:30am with all 4 kids... and a dog, and a goal of setting my personal record. I hoped to come in with a time under an hour. I signed in and picked up my shirt and number, then the kids and I left for some breakfast (for them, I can't eat before I run). When we got back, we took a few pictures and watched the 5K runners start and finish. I warmed up and stretched a little and then started my run at 8:15!
I started off a little too fast and was getting a bit winded before I even hit mile 1, so I slowed my pace a little. When I hit mile 1, they called out my time, and I could see why I was winded... 9:00. I am not a fast runner, so that is a really fast mile for me. I found my pace and started really feeling good at the halfway point. By mile 5, we were back to the area near the finish line. We had to do one lap of a dirt track before hitting the finish line. As I rounded the last turn of the track, I heard it "GO MAMA!!" All 4 of my kids were lined up on the fence (they were outside and I was inside) screaming for me to go!! I picked up my pace and ran my little heart out. I got around the outside of the fence... my older 2 had moved to the finish line with the camera and the younger 2 got on either side of me and ran with me through the finish line!
What an incredible finish! And you want to know the best part about it? Without their encouragement at the finish, I wouldn't have reached my goal. I was feeling tired and was slowing down, but their encouragement made me pick up my pace and cross the finish line with a time of 59:11! I finished 39th overall and 1st female in my age group!
The trophy for this race means soooo much too. The awards were crosses, painted by the children at the Children's Hospital. It is displayed proudly on my mantle.
Yesterday's long run was 7.1 miles. Felt great yesterday, but now my ankle is kind of hurting. Not sure if I twisted it somehow, or if it's just sore. It's time for new running shoes, that much is for sure
I wasn't able to do Super Cardio Saturday. I was just too tired and needed to rest. So I listened to my body and took a rest day.
Anyone want a dog??
I had my cocker spaniel already, then my step-daughter arrived with her little dog in tow..... As if that weren't enough... the girls found a puppy outside last week and they brought it in and fed it. You can imagine how that went when they put the little thing back outside...
So, now we have 3 dogs..... all of them IN THE HOUSE.
We may be moving soon... Not sure yet. If we do, there will be a fenced in backyard, so the dog issue won't be as big.
Yesterday's workout was a 5 mile run... the first mile was at a slower pace for warm-up, miles 2-4 were at 9:50/mile pace, and the last was 11:00 cool down. It felt great! Today is another easy run day, 2 miles at 11:27/mile pace. I will probably do FIRM Yoga or Express Cardio or something after it. Tomorrow is my usual Saturday workout (Super Cardio) and Sunday is Long Run day... supposed to do 7 miles.
A friend of mine is supposed to meet me to run and is supposed to be training with me for the half marathon..... but she hasn't showed up to run with me yet.
I have decided that what I need is a new goal to keep me motivated. I worked hard to get ready for my 5K, and I did it! So, I have a new goal! As short term, I am shooting for another 5K.. this one in December... followed by a 12K in February! THEN... the BIGGIE.... A HALF MARATHON on March 4th!
I am really excited about it. My training program started yesterday. 13.1 miles is a LOT. But I can do it. I am up to running 6 miles on Sunday morning long runs right now. This weekend I am going to 7. I've been at 6 for about a month or so.
I have been working out fairly consistently again for the last week or two, and have been laying off of the junk food! (That's a big one for me)
I hope everyone is doing well... I haven't forgotten about you. I have just been REALLY busy, and haven't been able to check in. Hopefully it will slow down... school holidays are GREAT for me. No after school activities if there's no schoo. he he he
I am trying really hard to get back "on the wagon" with my weight loss efforts. I am doing ok with getting back into my workouts, it's the eating I am having trouble with. I have skipped a workout or two in the last week, when I was just too busy and not at home and couldn't fit it in... but other than that, I'm plugging away. If only I could lay off the junk food.......
I have been dealing with a lot of stress at home and at work, so I am pretty sure that is affecting my weight loss efforts as well. At home it's financial, along with the stress of the kids. At work we are dealing with too many things to even name, and if some stuff doesn't get sorted out, I may be looking for another job.
Oh well, sometimes we go through these things, and then they sort out and we are stronger for having gone through it.
Today I have big plans for great eating and intense exercise.
Well, I may have had a short absence, but I am still around. Life is sooooooo unbelievably busy. I am trying to figure out when it happened, exactly. It wasn't like this a few months ago.... not that I remember anyway. Maybe it was and I am just getting senile.
I haven't been working out regularly, just a couple of runs a week and maybe a workout on Saturday if I am lucky. It has been insane. This weekend we will be "on the go" again.... Last weekend we had the kids belt ceremony (yellow belt now) at karate, then youngest daughter had a chorus performance at the mall, and then we took my step-daughter to get her learner's permit... then helped her work on a school project. Sunday it was church, cooking, church.....
This weekend is looking to be just as exhausting. We have a karate tournament seminar on Saturday (the kids want to start competing), then a cookout at my brother in law's house. Sunday is church, then cook, then church again.
UGH!
I have been keeping up with my long runs on Sundays, and a couple of shorter runs during the week... just haven't been doing my FIRM videos regualrly. Last Sunday I was up at 5 and did 6 miles again. This week I am going to shoot for 6.5 or 7. I am trying to find a new route that will help me to add a little distance without being on all of the main roads.
I can't remember what workout I am supposed to do today, but tomorrow is Super Cardio... so I plan on dropping the kids off at their seminar for karate, go home and do SC and shower, pick them up and then head to the cookout.
Just a quick check-in before I start waking the whole family up to start getting ready for church. Friday, my alma mater, the Northside High School Eagles defeated the Warner Robins High School Demons by the awesome score of 28 - 7! GO EAGLES! My step-daughter got to go to the game with the son of a friend of mine and some of his friends, and I think it was really good for her to get out with people her age and hang out, especially with someone who I know will be a good influence on her.
Yesterday, my younger kids tested for yellow belt at karate... the testing this time lasted for an hour and a half and they went through EVERYTHING! It was A LOT different from the last testing, but I still think that they did GREAT! They knew their moves and their judges nodded a lot when watching them.
We went to a big street festival yesterday afternoon, with live Christian bands, and tributes to first responders and military... It was great. It was capped off last night by a full concert by the group Casting Crowns. The whole evening was wonderful!
This morning I ran 6 miles, and now I have to get going with the day.... we have church and then a cookout/swimming thing... if the weather cooperates for swimming. The kids are really hoping it will, since it's cooling off some and this might be the last chance for swimming this year.
Have a great day and a great week. After this weekend I am looking forward to going back to work so I can get some rest.
After reading your comments to my rotation, let me just say... don't be too impressed. I haven't done ANYTHING since I posted it. It's my 'late week' at work, which means HECTIC getting the kiddos off to school in the mornings, getting to work later than normal, working late, then dinner, kids karate lessons, daughter's game, church on Wed, ... I haven't had time to breathe this week without being pulled in another direction, so workouts haven't been done...
The week is over now, and I am heading out the door to go home in a few minutes, but the weekend will be just as busy....
Here's the weekend:
Tonight - The younger kids have karate, and then... It's the big High School football rivalry game. The 2 high schools in town play each other tonight Northside High School vs. Warner Robins High School. And since I now have a step daughter at Northside (My alma mater) it's a big thing!
Tomorrow morning, my two younger ones test for yellow belt at karate. Then from 3 - 10 there is a big thing at a church across town with a free concert by Casting Crowns... if anyone knows who they are... they are awesome!! So that's the rest of our day.
Sunday it's church in the am, a birthday cookout for a friend/coworker, then back to church
I need a nap just typing it all. Maybe I can fit in a workout or a run... if not, I figure I will be getting plenty of exercise with all the running around.
