Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

JUST GET OUT!

Today was one of THOSE days.  You know the ones I'm talking about:  you wake up, you're very tired, your muscles are sore, you're very pleased with the amount of mileage you've accumulated already this week, and "besides, this is only a three mile day.  It won't really matter if I skip it.  I'm tired *wahhhh.*"  Well, I'm either becoming a more wise runner, or my ugly competitive side is actually helping me, because I made it out the door today.  D woke up before I did, and set out immediately, and when he came back all sweaty and glowy and triumphant, I knew that I had to at least attempt to recreate that experience for myself.  Otherwise, I'd feel like a weenie, and a lazy loser.  So before I could come up with a laundry list of "justifiable reasons" to NOT run, I just strapped on my shoes and left the building. 

I have, over the years, constructed a list of "reasons to not run," that I mentally carry around with me should I ever need it.  It consists of, but is not limited to, the following:

1) I'm tired

2) I don't have time

3) I'll probably fail (this is a blanket excuse and can be adapted, depending on the circumstances, i.e.: I can fail with "lack of distance," "slow timing," etc.)

4) It's cold

5) It's hot

6) I desperately need to do laundry and don't have any clean running gear

7) I'm sore

8) It's THAT time of the month

9) I'll be all bloated and super sweaty afterwards

10) I'm going to sit on my couch and really "treat" myself.  With bon-bons.

Etc, etc, etc.

We all have our list of excuses that we reach for when our natural inclination is to NOT RUN.  Certainly being in training is very helpful for this.  Especially if you (as we do) have your marathon schedule on your refrigerator, and you "X" out the days you've completed.  This is a great motivator.  This is why I've decided I should always be training for a race-- having a set goal (that you've paid for) keeps you accountable.  Also, SCIENCE helps.  And by that, I mean my own personal science.  I have hypothesized, and tested the following statement HUNDREDS of times:  "I always feel better after I run.  I have never once run and thought to myself, 'Oh, man.  I REALLY wish I hadn't done that."  Think about it?  Have you ever done ANY form of exercise only to wish you hadn't?  No.  The answer is No.  You haven't.  Because our bodies and the rational portion of our brains want us to run/exercise, but sometimes the irrational part of our minds try to trick us into thinking that we don't.  Why?  Because exercise is NOT COMFORTABLE.  You sweat, you breathe hard, your heart pounds; it isn't easy.  But the subsequent endorphin flow is a very nice reward for the 20/30/40/60 minutes you spend outside of your comfort zone. 

So anyways.  I had just about had myself talked out of running today ("I'm tired.") but I decided instead to not think about it, to just go, and to allow whatever result to be OK.  Well, guess what?  It was a fantastic run.  My first mile clocked at 8:14 (with very minimal "effort" on my part), and I came home with boundless energy and a sense of accomplishment.  And best of all, I can now afford to eat a bon-bon or two.