My BRF (best running friend) and I normally meet in the early morning during the week, well before the sun, single people, and groggy teenagers are even thinking about getting up!
It's quiet and cold, but it's the best time to run. Except for one serious problem - commuters! Let me be more specific - commuters who obviously haven't had their coffee and aren't really driving with any clear awareness.
I've come close to getting hit by a car more times than I care to count. And it's getting worse... Now, I have a headlamp and my BRF has a blinking vest (yes, I said blinking) BUT that doesn't help when a driver is making a right turn at a RED light, and is only looking to the left for oncoming cars. Look to the right too, people!
I'm going to admit to this, however; before I became a runner, I only looked left. I rolled up to the end of the street on a red light (rather than stopping behind the crosswalk) and I didn't give a second thought to pedestrians, runners, or cyclists. Oh, how times have changed. Now, I'm acutely aware.
So, two weeks ago, my husband decided to go for a run with me (truth be told, we had a fight and he was trying to get back on my good side - he knows the way to my heart, that's for sure). So, off we go with a babysitter at the house and the sun setting around 5:30pm. My normal running apparel is mostly black. I can't explain it - that's just how it happens.... And Mike had a flashlight so I opted for no headlamp.
Off we go on a short 4 mile run, down and back on the main street in our town. Trotting along and chatting, I remembered how much I love to run with my husband. It was a blast! That is until we were heading back and my FAVORITE right turn on RED incident became a little too close for comfort... Yep, old "need to get home" guy almost took out my knee caps as he rolled forward. Not sure who was scared worse him, me or my husband.
Good news - I lived to write about it (and it only cut into my running time about 30 seconds).
Bad news - Mike said he wasn't sure he wanted me running anymore (yea, like he could stop me).
Moral of the story - don't trust the people around you (cars or runners). Be aware and be careful! But still get up and go! (like anyone could stop you!)
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
What Moves You
What moves you? What motivates you? What gets you out the door when there a million reasons not to go? Dinner to make, dishes to load, kids to care for, your favorite show, oh-so-tired after work, no clean clothes, can't find your shoes, maybe you'll go tomorrow, and on and on it can go...
And how do you feel on those days when those millions of reasons win out? If you're anything like me, you don't stop thinking about it after you've decided to not go. You continue to think about it all night long and the feeling of regret that I didn't get out when I could eats at me until the next time I DO get out the door.
I've opted for early morning runs because it eliminates a lot of the above. I have less excuses - there are no expected phone calls, or meetings, or emails to return so the work worries are eliminated. Most of the time, the girls are sleeping when I leave or just starting to wake up (and yes, sometimes I hear them as I'm closing the door behind me....hehehe, sorry babe, I think as I close the door and head out).
But there are also times when I just don't want to get up. And on those days, I try to squeeze a run in elsewhere in my schedule. Sometimes it works - sometimes it doesn't. The hardest part for me is letting a missed run go without beating myself up over it. It's ok to miss a workout. It's ok to take a day off. In fact, it's encouraged and yet even when it's a planned rest day, I feel lazy for not doing something.
The sane person in me knows that balance is the key - the crazy, psycho runner in me thinks more miles, more miles, more miles like a creepy echo in a horror movie. Balance normally wins out. But not because the sane person wins out, but because I have mommy obligations that stall the crazy, psycho runner from taking over (completely).
And how do you feel on those days when those millions of reasons win out? If you're anything like me, you don't stop thinking about it after you've decided to not go. You continue to think about it all night long and the feeling of regret that I didn't get out when I could eats at me until the next time I DO get out the door.
I've opted for early morning runs because it eliminates a lot of the above. I have less excuses - there are no expected phone calls, or meetings, or emails to return so the work worries are eliminated. Most of the time, the girls are sleeping when I leave or just starting to wake up (and yes, sometimes I hear them as I'm closing the door behind me....hehehe, sorry babe, I think as I close the door and head out).
But there are also times when I just don't want to get up. And on those days, I try to squeeze a run in elsewhere in my schedule. Sometimes it works - sometimes it doesn't. The hardest part for me is letting a missed run go without beating myself up over it. It's ok to miss a workout. It's ok to take a day off. In fact, it's encouraged and yet even when it's a planned rest day, I feel lazy for not doing something.
The sane person in me knows that balance is the key - the crazy, psycho runner in me thinks more miles, more miles, more miles like a creepy echo in a horror movie. Balance normally wins out. But not because the sane person wins out, but because I have mommy obligations that stall the crazy, psycho runner from taking over (completely).
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Miles to go....
Have you ever had a struggle? I mean a real struggle where nothing seems to be working. You try and try and try and yet nothing changes BUT you (being stubborn and unwilling to relent) just don't give up.
I hope you have. Because what you find when you go through something like that is, eventually, your struggle will end and you will feel invincible for having seen it through.
Mine has been battling my weight after my last pregnancy. I gave give you all the excuses I've allowed myself - my mom died while I was pregnant, I had three babies in three years, I'm tired, I'm not getting enough sleep, I need food to keep my training up, blah, blah, blah....
The truth is that I'm in control and while I was doing everything I thought I could, the naked truth was I wasn't successful. My running was sluggish and my weight wouldn't budge. So, I did the one thing I HATE to do. I asked for help. And I got it. And now, in 5 weeks, I'm down 13 pounds and I'm wondering why it took me so long to realize I just needed some guidance.
My running is easier (and faster) and I feel great. Not tired, not sluggish... I feel great! (wait, did I already say that? ehhh, it's worth repeating).
And I relate it, as is my habit, to my training. I see the hills during a long run and I think I'm going to beat this. I see the miles on my training plan and I know I can run it. It's going to hurt and I may even cramp up and cry (as I did on Sunday at mile 13 of 14) but I'm going to get it done.
And damn, I feel great! That 26.2 miles I plan to tackle in January isn't seeming so daunting these days. It's seeming attainable and just like one more struggle I need to get through to feel stronger and more like me.
I hope you have. Because what you find when you go through something like that is, eventually, your struggle will end and you will feel invincible for having seen it through.
Mine has been battling my weight after my last pregnancy. I gave give you all the excuses I've allowed myself - my mom died while I was pregnant, I had three babies in three years, I'm tired, I'm not getting enough sleep, I need food to keep my training up, blah, blah, blah....
The truth is that I'm in control and while I was doing everything I thought I could, the naked truth was I wasn't successful. My running was sluggish and my weight wouldn't budge. So, I did the one thing I HATE to do. I asked for help. And I got it. And now, in 5 weeks, I'm down 13 pounds and I'm wondering why it took me so long to realize I just needed some guidance.
My running is easier (and faster) and I feel great. Not tired, not sluggish... I feel great! (wait, did I already say that? ehhh, it's worth repeating).
And I relate it, as is my habit, to my training. I see the hills during a long run and I think I'm going to beat this. I see the miles on my training plan and I know I can run it. It's going to hurt and I may even cramp up and cry (as I did on Sunday at mile 13 of 14) but I'm going to get it done.
And damn, I feel great! That 26.2 miles I plan to tackle in January isn't seeming so daunting these days. It's seeming attainable and just like one more struggle I need to get through to feel stronger and more like me.
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