Enjoy the Journey
I was in the Dominican Republic last week. Oh how I loved that vacation! I'm working on a recap.
I packed workout stuff, because that is part of pampering myself... going for a run, without kids, whenever I want, as long as I want. I also swam laps, outside, in the sun... and loved that too!
Not too long ago I posted about my conversion to the minimalist shoe. I'm not about to run barefoot on the pavement, but in the DR I came as close to that as I intend to get. I ran both my 5 mile runs on the beach, barefoot.
It was a little heavenly for me. Sun, my breath, no shoes, water cooling off my feet occasionally, ocean breeze. I was drenched between humidity and ocean water, by the end of my run... ok by me! It was a good workout both times, the extra push and give worked my legs in a new way.
Take me back please!
I am so grateful to come back to spring finally in action here! The trees are blooming, the sun has shone all week. Running outside has been fabulous. I'm happy to come home to that vs. the cold, rainy, gray that I left with.
Coming back this week I was a little behind and I ended up doing my speed workout on Friday.
So, before I even began my run on Saturday I knew it was going to be a challenge. My legs were sore and tired.
It was a tough run, a great mental workout for me!
While I was on the plane I caught up on a bunch of magazine reading... I read an article in the May issue of Runner's World titled "Beyond the Mantra" that was perfect for me. Sorry, I tried to look it up to link it, but it's not there. This season in particular I have felt mentally weak. I took the winter off (basically to rest my knees), gained 10 lbs. and have felt plagued by chasing my 'regular numbers'. As I started running regularly again I would reassure myself that it would come back, it always does. But my mind has not felt strong. I have let myself give up, stop, give in to the first sign of challenge. That is not where I want to be.
This article was good for me, to evaluate my thought process, where I am weak right now, how I can turn that around. I analyzed my thinking as I ran my marathon and can see when/where I lost it.
The mind is such an incredible tool and power over it results in physical power. Not only in running, but in many aspects of life.
I also read a magazine article recently recapping a talk by Elder Uchtdorf. He mentioned cycling with his wife and him wanting to speed up, race, go faster. His wife reminded him that their cycling wasn't about the finish, and to enjoy the journey, the time they spent together doing something they both enjoy.
Coming full circle now to my run on Saturday. It was a good mental workout for me. I say that because, yes, my legs were tired. I didn't feel super strong, but I went anyway, with the intent to take it easy, nice and slow. It was good for me to get out, take inventory over and again, then reassure myself, I feel just fine, my legs are good, keep going. Reassuring myself builds confidence. Changing my thinking!
I thought about that comment of enjoying the journey. I thought to myself, why am I on this run if I don't enjoy running? I know I enjoy running. So, just run! The sun is shining, I feel good, just go!
The body's natural response to pain or discomfort is to make it stop!!! Sometimes we panic or give up when that response hits. But, sometimes if you push through that first response, you find that your body is capable of much more than you thought it was, if you can change your thinking.
In with the good, out with the bad (Happy Gilmore)
Even though my legs were tired I ran up that big hill, kept running and went all 12 miles. I felt slow, but I actually ran it in 1:35 (7:55). Better than I expected for that day! Who knew! Go positive thinking!
I'm still not where I want to be, but I'll try to strike the balance between enjoying the journey and pushing my abilities. I'll get there, and enjoy each run along the way.
Here is to another week of running.
I packed workout stuff, because that is part of pampering myself... going for a run, without kids, whenever I want, as long as I want. I also swam laps, outside, in the sun... and loved that too!
Not too long ago I posted about my conversion to the minimalist shoe. I'm not about to run barefoot on the pavement, but in the DR I came as close to that as I intend to get. I ran both my 5 mile runs on the beach, barefoot.
It was a little heavenly for me. Sun, my breath, no shoes, water cooling off my feet occasionally, ocean breeze. I was drenched between humidity and ocean water, by the end of my run... ok by me! It was a good workout both times, the extra push and give worked my legs in a new way.
Take me back please!
I am so grateful to come back to spring finally in action here! The trees are blooming, the sun has shone all week. Running outside has been fabulous. I'm happy to come home to that vs. the cold, rainy, gray that I left with.
Coming back this week I was a little behind and I ended up doing my speed workout on Friday.
So, before I even began my run on Saturday I knew it was going to be a challenge. My legs were sore and tired.
It was a tough run, a great mental workout for me!
While I was on the plane I caught up on a bunch of magazine reading... I read an article in the May issue of Runner's World titled "Beyond the Mantra" that was perfect for me. Sorry, I tried to look it up to link it, but it's not there. This season in particular I have felt mentally weak. I took the winter off (basically to rest my knees), gained 10 lbs. and have felt plagued by chasing my 'regular numbers'. As I started running regularly again I would reassure myself that it would come back, it always does. But my mind has not felt strong. I have let myself give up, stop, give in to the first sign of challenge. That is not where I want to be.
This article was good for me, to evaluate my thought process, where I am weak right now, how I can turn that around. I analyzed my thinking as I ran my marathon and can see when/where I lost it.
The mind is such an incredible tool and power over it results in physical power. Not only in running, but in many aspects of life.
I also read a magazine article recently recapping a talk by Elder Uchtdorf. He mentioned cycling with his wife and him wanting to speed up, race, go faster. His wife reminded him that their cycling wasn't about the finish, and to enjoy the journey, the time they spent together doing something they both enjoy.
Coming full circle now to my run on Saturday. It was a good mental workout for me. I say that because, yes, my legs were tired. I didn't feel super strong, but I went anyway, with the intent to take it easy, nice and slow. It was good for me to get out, take inventory over and again, then reassure myself, I feel just fine, my legs are good, keep going. Reassuring myself builds confidence. Changing my thinking!
I thought about that comment of enjoying the journey. I thought to myself, why am I on this run if I don't enjoy running? I know I enjoy running. So, just run! The sun is shining, I feel good, just go!
The body's natural response to pain or discomfort is to make it stop!!! Sometimes we panic or give up when that response hits. But, sometimes if you push through that first response, you find that your body is capable of much more than you thought it was, if you can change your thinking.
In with the good, out with the bad (Happy Gilmore)
Even though my legs were tired I ran up that big hill, kept running and went all 12 miles. I felt slow, but I actually ran it in 1:35 (7:55). Better than I expected for that day! Who knew! Go positive thinking!
I'm still not where I want to be, but I'll try to strike the balance between enjoying the journey and pushing my abilities. I'll get there, and enjoy each run along the way.
Here is to another week of running.