3 Things Thursday: Defeated, Redeemed & Inspired

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What a roller coaster of a Thursday it has been for me!

1.  Deafeated.  Feeling very pathetic, but after just 3 days of my Streak, it all ended yesterday due to so many things beyond my control - the hubs coming home later than usual, ridiculously cold temps outside, total meltdown from the youngest 2 boys, and a homework war with the oldest.  By the time I got everyone and everything fed, cleaned, bathed, and off to bed, it was already 10pm and I was exhausted.

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 It pains me when I can't follow through what I set out to do.  Tet deep down, the adult in me knew that what I set out to do (to run at least 1 mile a day in January) wasn't very realistic.  Swept by the new promise of a new year, I made very ambitious goals without thinking through the logistics, since I have to work my running goals around my priorities (the hubs, the boys, the house).  So I'm going to put a bookmark on the streaking challenge and come back to it later this year, when the days are longer, and I'm ok with that.

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2.  Redeemed.  It must have been from all the pasta I feasted on last night.  Or the 14 gummy bears I ate pre-run.  Or the (ahem) 4 pounds (YIKES!) I gained over the holidays (yeah that's it).  Or because I ended my Streak and got to rest yesterday.  Or maybe it was born out of the frustration for not being able to complete my Streak, but this morning, I ran 5.

Yes, 5 miles, and it felt SO GOOD!  I think I am finally getting my running mojo back!  I went by feel and started out slow, afraid I'd injure myself.  Running 5 totally surprised me since I felt so done at the end of my 3.5 mile run just 2 days ago.  I'm so relieved.  I'm back on track.  I'm so happy to be following a training plan again. :)

3.  Inspired.  Finally, after basking in my personal triumph from this morning, I discovered this little video, and it made me smile and all warm & fuzzy on the inside.  What a wonderful thing to do on your birthday!  It inspired me to do something similar on my 40th (ACK!) birthday later this year - to give back, to be grateful, to bring smiles. So please check out what Lucas did on his 30th birthday below:

2012 Running Streak: Day 4 - Is It The End, Already?

I'm staring out at our street and wondering if I could get in just 1 mile in today for my Streak.  The hubs is not home yet, it's almost 5pm and it's getting dark out.  This is when a "dreadmill" is looking really really really good right now.

I FINALLY got back to my exercise class this morning (oh, am I going to be sore tomorrow!) after 1 whole month of not going.  I had planned on sneaking off to the side to run my 1 mile around the perimeter of the gym, but I chickened out, thinking it would be rude to do my own thing all of a sudden in front of everybody.  This is not your ordinary gym with equipment like a dreadmill (oh, I wish!).  It's really just an indoor basketball court.  


I thought about parking my minivan in my driveway, windows cracked a little, engine on, to keep Dozer, my 4 y.o., warm, strapped in his carseat and plugged in front of the car TV screen, watching Tom & Jerry for the 146th time - while I sneak in my 1 mile, running 10 laps around my culdesac.  


But I didn't.


Go sign up for a gym membership already, you would say, right?  I know.  I should.  I'm so cheap.  I don't even like running on the dreadmill, and I have 2 awesome FREE exercise classes that I go to 2x out of the week where I can bring Dozer to play with the other moms' kids!  Exercise class and playdate all in one and free.  How can I say no to that?  


I think this means I NEED to buy a dreadmill for days like today (AHEM - wonder if the hubs is reading this).  Not that I would be streaking all year (though I have thought of it), but it makes sense.  It would be a great investment.  No excuses.


Hmm....Darn.  Should have asked Santa for a dreadmill.


Do you have a dreadmill treadmill?  Which one would you recommend?    

2012 Running Streak: Day 3 - Wind-Swept

What a blustery day!  The air temp was just 30 deg. but with the wind it felt like 18deg.!  When it's this cold I usually obsess the night before what i should wear.  The sun was out so I layered with a long sleeve tech tee, a pullover fleece on top of that, and finally my Salomon Fast Wing Hoody II Jacket, (no worries, this is NOT an affiliate link) one of the best running gear purchases I've made and one of my favorites!  It's a very light weight jacket that's wind AND water resistant.  It kept me comfortable and warm in my run this morning!  I highly recommend it!  

After my first two not-so-great runs of the new year, I was relieved to finally be able to run past 2 miles this morning (3.5 miles) without huffing and puffing and feeling like crap.  My pace was slower, but it helped me ease into my run and get into a rhythm.  I knew I was going too fast yesterday and Sunday!  

Well, I'm happy and mostly relieved that I'm coming around because today's run starts off my half marathon training for The Carefirst Rock N Roll USA Half Marathon in mid-March!  Yeah!  

Anyone else running this race too?

2012 Running Streak: Day 2, Painful 1-Miler

It's my off running day so I just did 1 mile.  The streak requires at least 1 mile a day.  I have 3.5 miles on my training calendar for tomorrow and I don't want to overdo it.  Besides, that 1 mile was the same as yesterday.  Painful and I can't believe I was happy to be done.  How could I go from running 5 miles a day easily 2 weeks ago to struggling to do just 1 today?

Anyone struggling or struggled to get back to running after taking 2 or more weeks off?  What did you do, how long did it take you to get your running mojo back?

2012 Running Streak: Day One

I Heart To Run on Facebook challenged its subscribers to do a running streak for 2012.  I'm all for doing anything to keep running through the winter, so I jumped on the bandwagon and forced myself to run today.

I only managed to squeak in 2 miles this morning and O.M.G.  After not running for almost 2 1/2 weeks, it did not feel good.  I struggled.  Can't believe I lost my running mojo in just 2 weeks.  This is going to be "fun" getting back to running....with The Rock N Roll National Half in 2 1/2 months and already behind my training schedule......Yeah.  Fun.  :-/. Darn those cookies!

Anyone else participating in their streak or other challenges?  Please share!