Running Against the Wind

Running against the wind~

Reminds me of "running" through life. With the wind blowing against me every muscle hurts, my eyes burn and my skin chafes. Hills are a challenge by themselves but with the wind pushing against my body, hills turn into mountains. They seem larger than before and I struggle with thoughts of turning around and taking the easy way back to the bottom of the hill. This is when I have to remove the pain from my thoughts and replace it with thoughts of the goal I am trying to achieve. What is better for me: a challenge or easy sailing? Hmmmm....I know the easy answer, but what makes me stronger?

With the wind at my back I run faster, feel like I have wings and hills pose no challenge at all. This is when running is easy. I guess we all need a little wind behind us pushing us along from time to time, right?

That being said, it doesn't seem like a "run" if it's too easy...makes me laugh~too easy and running should not be in the same sentence. :0)

In closing~ it's obvious that I choose the challenge~ Running Against the Wind

After the Dallas Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon

This was a great day~ 1/2 marathon in Dallas TX. Running through my city was interesting and gave me a feeling of belonging. Crossing the finish line is always sweet~ a great feeling of accomplishment. Mind over body for 13.1 miles, with each mile devoted to a time in my life that I needed to think about. As I ran I thought about good times, remembered the not so good times and was able to cross the finish line with a different outlook than I started the race with.

Exhausted but at peace~ running gives me peace.

Fork In The Road

When faced with a fork in the road, what would you do? Go left? Go Right? Stand there indecisive?

I choose to go right. Right to the heart of the matter, right to the path with the most hills and obstacles, right to end.

Running brought me to a fork in the road. In all of the hours I have spent on the road, dodging pot holes and cringing as I pushed my body up hill, I often thought of giving up. I could have gone left and walked the distance, but I chose to go right and run the distance. I chose this, for ME.....

Run the distance, feel the wind on your face, with your shoulders back and head up cross the finish line with pride! I know I will :0)

Moving through the crowd

Here I sit, just 6 days away from my 1st endurance event. I am getting more and more excited as I count down....7..6...5...

I want to run, run away from doubt, run away from insecurity and run away from anything that tries to hold me back!

I want to run to the light, run for life, run to find something in myself I thought I had lost long ago.

When I am tired and want to give up, I will remember the days, weeks and months spent training for that day, that moment when I transition from can I do this, to I can do this!!!

Running With Purpose

This week is the most exciting week I've had since renewing my love for running. The Oklahoma City 1/2 Marathon is next Sunday and I am starting to get extremely excited. I have to admit, the little nagging voice inside my head keeps reminding me that the furthest I've run (since high school) is 10.6 miles. I am torn between simply finishing the race and pushing myself to create a personal record. I guess that any finish time is a personal record considering I have never run a 1/2 marathon! I am doing my homework; what should I eat/drink the week prior to the race? How much exercise should I do to stay limber without over doing it? What should I wear Race Day? I did not realize that I would be this anxious. However, I have to be real with myself, this is the most important thing that I have done for “ME” in a very long time.

As a mother, wife, friend, sister, daughter and employee, the time I spent training was time that I invested in myself. This is a new concept for me.
I realize that running has been my own personal achievement, something that is not a result of my childhood, my height, weight or education. Rather, this is something that I did by pushing myself physically; mind over body. I am proud of myself and excited about Race Day.

I am looking forward running the distance. This time I am not running away; I am running to...running to meet a goal that I set for myself 5 months ago. I believe that crossing the finish line is going to be a very emotional and rewarding moment. I am ready....

With Each Step, I move forward

Running today I felt free. Each step I took reminded me of my ability to push myself forward through wind, rain, tears and pain. Looking forward, I am completely aware of my surroundings, but completely removed from anything that may slow me down. I clear my mind of the cobwebs and remember why running soothes me.

Running for a cause

I am very excited to be 21 days away from my 1st half marathon. I am running in honor of those who live life everyday with cancer, specifically Blood Cancers. I am running in memory of those who lost their lives ,tragically, in the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995. I will be thinking of the victims, families and survivors while I run the course. Crossing the Finish Line will be an emotional moment for me and I will remember that I am blessed to see the Finish Line.