This is it...I am down to the crunch. One last week before I run a race in another country dressed like an Indian Princess.
The last 3 and 1/2 months have been a journey. I trained, following the schedule I laid out pretty much to a T! I am very proud of myself. I look back to last year's 1/2 training for the Big Run in Calgary, and this time around is MUCH different. I am in better shape, both physically and mentally. My endurance level is improved, my eating has been really good. I just felt all in all, fabulous! NO ITB injuries this time...thank heavens! I am happy with how it has all come together.
Then along comes today. My last long run of the training before the race. I am never one to back down from a challenge, so when I was faced with running indoors, on a crap treadmill, I sucked it up and donned my runners. It was time to get this show on the road (or treadmill in this case).
The run started out ok...I run the first 3 miles (yes miles, not km) and I feel good. Then I stop to grab Sport Beans out of my bag, and continue on. The treadmill resets itself. NO biggie...lets restart this fu..sucker.
I get into about the 6th mile, and in comes this lovely lady Penny and I think her son. He hops onto the treadmill and with his freakin' Gazelle-y legs, takes off like a scalded cat, and me with my short stubs, plugs on, feeling slightly deflated. I am running and running and would probably never catch up to him. He is barely exerting any energy, and I am starting to feel the hatin' coming on for this POS treadmill. It was as tho Marky Mark had written his song, "Good Vibrations" in tribute to this fu...sucker.
I keep on. Gazelle-y legs is just a young guy...I ask him, "Are you training for a race"? Nope...just running. For the fun of it. **Insert me sighing heavily** Kids these days.
My stubbies are getting pained...my calf muscles are freakin' hurtin' like a bad country song and I am still only at about 10 miles. YAY...only 3.1 more miles to go.
GL is still going strong. I have had to take several walk breaks, my left side has a nasty stitch which won't go away and I wonder to myself, do they do leg transplants at the Bow Island Hospital?
Penny & GL pack up and head home. They wish me lots of luck and I give his legs one last ogle as he walks out the door. **Insert second heavy sigh**
I stare ahead into to this little room in the gym which has a red punching bag hanging from it's ceiling. I have this thing about boxing. I think I would be great at it and really want to try it...BAD! So, I stare hard at the bag. I am strong. I am powerful. I have powerful arms and shoulders and I want that to transcend to my lower half. I keep chanting to myself, "You are strong, you are strong". I run, feeling NOT strong at all today, but damn it all, I am almost there!
I hit my Ipod to play my Power Song, "Awake and Alive" by Skillet. I go to another place in my head where my legs aren't paining, and my ass cheeks aren't aching and the stitch in my side has effed off. I have crossed the 13 mile mark and I have only .10 of a mile to go. I ramp the speed up and I am feeling like someone just told me I won the lottery. I cross that 13.1 mile finish line on that damn treadmill and then pull the plug.
I stand there in the silence of the gym, with Maroon 5 playing in my ears and I just cry. I never intended to get emotional, but I did. It was tough. It was honestly the worst run since I started running. But I will never give up. Even if I have to walk.
I know every run is not perfect. There are times they are really just NOT GOOD! That is part of the process of being a runner.
I gathered myself together, after the Ugly Cry and packed my gym bag for home. I did it. I made it through. The race is next Sunday, and all I can say is I am so glad to have this bad run out of my system. Now the wonderful race experience awaits!!
Pocohantas was a tough chick. She ran barefoot in the forest with her Gazelle-y legged friends and she rocked it out! I may not run as fast as her, but I can guarantee I am going to have her killer spirit and Take-No-Crap attitude. I will run with everything I have and maybe paint some new Colors of My Own on that Orlando landscape!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Just Maybe I Can
I never imagined I would or COULD inspire anyone. I am really nobody unusual or special. I am just a normal girl, with some dreams of my own.
Lately, and ESPECIALLY, because of my Facebook group, I See Fit People, I have started to think that I CAN make a difference and help someone change their life.
When I started the group on FB, it was to help out a few friends with questions and pass on some good info that I came across. That was it. I sent out a few invites, and Shazaam! It was on a roll!
I have no degree or certification...I just love this fit & healthy way of life and I am completely passionate about it. I woke up one day...literally...and decided why can't I do this? Why can't I run, be healthier, make a difference in my own life, learn more? So I did.
It has almost been 2 years since I grabbed the bull by the horns and tossed him around a little bit. I started running, eating the right things, reading, absorbing, networking and growing (while shrinking a little physically), building muscle and expanding my fitness repertoire. Oh yeah...it CAN be done. I don't care who or what you think you can or cannot do. I am living proof that you can change yourself. I know this sounds like beating a dead horse, but mind over matter. That is all it is.
It goes without saying that after ISFP started growing, I became a little more dedicated and involved. I honestly, every single week, get messages from people asking my opinion about food, exercise, motivation. I am astounded. I mean, who am I? Am I someone worthy of giving advice when I have no formal training? I often wonder about that, but then shut that little devil on my shoulder up, and start typing a reply. I think if something has worked for me, then bloody heck, it is going to work for someone else. Keep asking me questions. I will answer.
I sometimes am silenced and brought to tears by some of your messages and stories. I am ALWAYS honored and feel so privileged that you chose to share your life, struggles, goals, dreams & successes with me. These messages come not only from complete strangers, but from some people I have known my entire life. They tell me I am their motivation...I keep them going when they didn't feel like it. Little do they know, but they are the ones who are doing the same thing for me.
I want to live not only for myself, but for others. I am going to keep doing what I am doing. If I think I helped even one person make a change that impacted their life, then I have done something fabulous.
I have met some amazing people because of ISFP. From across the globe, in fact. Yes, it is true...people EVERYWHERE struggle with the same things. We are all brought together with the tie that binds: To be better, be more, change ourselves..the list goes on and on. To meet an ISFP memeber in person...well, it rocks. To everyone I have met so far..you all blow me away! I cannot wait to meet even more of you!
I got this great message from someone last week, who I really didn't know well at all. It was kind of funny, but impactful at the same time. She saw me drop my son off at school, music as usual, blaring from my car stereo. She said she saw me doing my little car seat dancing & bopping and it just made her day. Nothing huge or earth shattering for sure. But the fact is she took the time to send me a message to say it lit up her day.
The moral of the story is this:
Do what you do because you love it & have passion! You never know who is watching and taking something great from that!
Change things....one little step at a time.
Lately, and ESPECIALLY, because of my Facebook group, I See Fit People, I have started to think that I CAN make a difference and help someone change their life.
When I started the group on FB, it was to help out a few friends with questions and pass on some good info that I came across. That was it. I sent out a few invites, and Shazaam! It was on a roll!
I have no degree or certification...I just love this fit & healthy way of life and I am completely passionate about it. I woke up one day...literally...and decided why can't I do this? Why can't I run, be healthier, make a difference in my own life, learn more? So I did.
It has almost been 2 years since I grabbed the bull by the horns and tossed him around a little bit. I started running, eating the right things, reading, absorbing, networking and growing (while shrinking a little physically), building muscle and expanding my fitness repertoire. Oh yeah...it CAN be done. I don't care who or what you think you can or cannot do. I am living proof that you can change yourself. I know this sounds like beating a dead horse, but mind over matter. That is all it is.
It goes without saying that after ISFP started growing, I became a little more dedicated and involved. I honestly, every single week, get messages from people asking my opinion about food, exercise, motivation. I am astounded. I mean, who am I? Am I someone worthy of giving advice when I have no formal training? I often wonder about that, but then shut that little devil on my shoulder up, and start typing a reply. I think if something has worked for me, then bloody heck, it is going to work for someone else. Keep asking me questions. I will answer.
I sometimes am silenced and brought to tears by some of your messages and stories. I am ALWAYS honored and feel so privileged that you chose to share your life, struggles, goals, dreams & successes with me. These messages come not only from complete strangers, but from some people I have known my entire life. They tell me I am their motivation...I keep them going when they didn't feel like it. Little do they know, but they are the ones who are doing the same thing for me.
I want to live not only for myself, but for others. I am going to keep doing what I am doing. If I think I helped even one person make a change that impacted their life, then I have done something fabulous.
I have met some amazing people because of ISFP. From across the globe, in fact. Yes, it is true...people EVERYWHERE struggle with the same things. We are all brought together with the tie that binds: To be better, be more, change ourselves..the list goes on and on. To meet an ISFP memeber in person...well, it rocks. To everyone I have met so far..you all blow me away! I cannot wait to meet even more of you!
I got this great message from someone last week, who I really didn't know well at all. It was kind of funny, but impactful at the same time. She saw me drop my son off at school, music as usual, blaring from my car stereo. She said she saw me doing my little car seat dancing & bopping and it just made her day. Nothing huge or earth shattering for sure. But the fact is she took the time to send me a message to say it lit up her day.
The moral of the story is this:
Do what you do because you love it & have passion! You never know who is watching and taking something great from that!
Change things....one little step at a time.
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