So, i haven't exactly been training the way i had thought i would, or the way i probably should have been, but really, when have i ever done anything in my life the way i set out to do it or the way i should have done it?!? the race is the day after tomorrow. 6.2 miles on the only two hills in this entire city. this is a very daunting distance for a new runner, who hasn't exactly been running.
up until a week or so ago, i had no idea how far i would make it. the baby wasn't sleeping, my husband was traveling, or the kids were insane. in my down time i wanted nothing more than to curl up on the couch and rest (or drink wine- which, while very relaxing, is not so good for the motivation of running!)
but something snapped in me. actually, it was my very good friend, K, telling me that running was all mental. she told me that there was no way i wouldn't finish the race. so, i basically had to forget about the physical part of it (which i had of course been focusing on) and switch gears. and this switched every gear in my body (and luckily my mind). when approached as a mental task, i can totally do this. my mind (as everyone's) is the strongest muscle in my body. i have delivered two babies with no pain medication, had stitches with no novocain, and i currently nurse a baby who teethes on my body as if it were a rubber ring (almost more painful than childbirth sans an epidural). my mental powers of pushing me through these instances have never even waned. so, of course they won't settle for anything less than success on saturday.
ever since i put the mental spin on my running regimen, i've been doing great. running farther, with more speed (although speed is the LAST thing on my mind for saturday. i just want to finish.) my stamina is up, my stress is down. besides the snags i've encountered with the baby not wanting to let me run, i've gotten really into this! which is kind of exciting, because it takes a lot to get me excited over anything exercise or physically-fit related.
so, i'm excited for saturday! i'm ready to do this, and have already decided to run a 5K in early may! this may be my "thing." now i am going to bed having accomplished my goal tonight (i wanted to run five miles and i made it 5.15! yay!) and i am going to dream of the biggest, tallest mug-o-beer i can imagine waiting for me at the end of the race on saturday morning (yes, morning, but it wouldn't be the first time i had beer at 9:00 a.m.) and then i am going to kick the crap out of the 10K! Woo!
You ARE amazing, and I'm so proud of how far you have come with this. As I know, running is a hard task to do, especially with 1 child let alone 2. When you are going up those hills, think about how rewarding all of this will be (or already has been) and you will have your trusty iPod to help you. Young the Giant I can already hear singing to you.
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