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Friday, January 6, 2012

‎"I know the price of success: dedication, hard work and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen." --Frank Lloyd Wright

Spartan Shape-Up, Day 169

Run Day, today, BlogLand! YAY! 

I am tired, though. It's been overtime central at work (it's busy season), so things like this happen: Get to work for 8am, work until 7pm. Get home by 7:35pm... Convince self that I WILL go for a run,  despite the fact that it was pitch dark, 20 degrees and the sidewalks were not "clear". 

I'm not going to lie, BlogLand, I spent a little time during my drive home from work trying to rationalize why I "shouldn't" go for a run, or "didn't need" to go for a run... and then I pictured what it would be like to try and explain to the GT that I've been skipping runs because it was "too cold".  Uhm. Yeah. There would be a long pause, an eyebrow raise.... and then I would immediate run out the door and go for my run, because I would be suddenly aware of how NOT a good excuse that was. hahaha. Here's the lesson, people: It's going to get hard. You're going to hit something that feels like a brick wall. You're not going to want to. No matter how resolute you are, no matter how driven, no matter how focused, you WILL have a day, week, moment, whatever, that you just don't want to. Find that person who knows and understands what you want - what you really want (to lose weight, to get healthy, to run a marathon, whatever it is) - and is willing to remind you of that (harshly, as necessary) when the going gets tough. You will thank them later. I promise. 

So, needless to say, I went for my run. It was supposed to be longer than the usual runs (remember, we're working up distances in increments!), but I was determined. I was going to be out in the cold anyway, what the hell, right? Stay on plan!

I hit the sidewalk and started out strong... until I quickly realized that today's random snow showers had created some interesting traction on the sidewalks... Like running through beach sand. Yeah, guess how easy that is? My calves were screaming by mile one. But I ran. Pain is temporary. I will not die from the calf cramps, no matter what my brain thinks.

I've been running without music these days, and it's pretty interesting. I pay more attention to my technique, as well as to my surroundings. I am learning to enjoy the "quiet" it my head. I am still thinking thoughts and turning things over in my mind, but it is much more relaxed and one-thought-at-a-time. I think I finally understand why some people like running for their "me time"... I'm getting that. 

Although I was tired, and the outsides of my legs were getting cold (My UA Coldgear tights come on Tuesday!!), I pushed through the rest of the mileage... I was thinking it was going to be around 4+ miles. 

BUT I DON'T KNOW... because apparently my phone/GPS got a little bit finicky about the cold and tried to tell me that I only ran 1.73miles. In 47:55 minutes. PROBABLY NOT. That annoyed the bejeezus out of me... I like to watch my progress, keep track of it (yes. I spreadsheet.), and this totally effed that up. 

AH well. I ran today, did you??

And now, my friends, I'm off to sleep. HARD. ZZzzZZzz... Just need to make it to the weekend!

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