How my Crappy Attitude about Running Changed

Around 6AM, I wake to the sounds of my son getting up for school and to the sound of rain.

YESSS, no running today!
Darn, I need to run!
Yay, I can sleep in!
Damnit! How am I supposed to train for a marathon with this crappy weather? 
This means I don’t have to do 17 miles today… right?!
But then when will I do the long run? NYC is not going to change the date of their marathon because I didn’t get my training done.
Live in the moment, this moment is it raining, so therefore I can’t run today… and don’t give me that bullshit about how cool it is to run in the rain, I’m not in the mood today.

My son heads out as my coffee brews. I check the weather. The first site tells me that by 9AM when I plan to meet my two running buddies the rain should have stopped. I check a few other sites, they all say the same thing. Damn!

I scroll through the late night happenings on Facebook and read a few blogs. I check the weather again. It hasn’t changed.

I don’t feel like it, but I make oatmeal, adding almond butter, chia seeds and cinnamon because that trio seems to give me energy and it looks like I’ll need it today.

I sleepily stare out the window and see that the rain has slowed to a drizzle, but technically it’s still raining. I check my phone to see if my running pals texted to cancel. They have not. What is their problem, why don’t they cancel?

As I begin a blog post, I want a second cup of coffee, but since I might be running soon, I stop at one. I check the weather again. Darn, why doesn’t it change to lightening and thunder!?

Whose idea was it to do the NYC marathon? What was I thinking when I said yes??

I make my sports drink and fill my water bottles. I check my phone again. Darn, no one canceled! I stick my head out the door and there’s no rain.

Okay, guess this run is happening today.
I post this on Facebook as I get ready to head out the door.

I like all the benefits of running and somedays I even like the act of running… today is not one of those days. I’m headed out the door for a looong run (17 miles) and I have no desire to run today :(
Ugh, one step at a time, I think I can, I think I can…

I don’t need my wipers as I drive to our meeting spot, but it is an overcast, humid kind of day. I arrive a few minutes early and my running buddies aren’t there. YES!! This means they are canceling. No run today because I can’t go alone, especially after that dead body was found on this trail recently. 

Damn, my friends soon arrive. I greet them with mixed emotions. Both seem to be in the same mood I am. There’s not a lot of chatter, other than complaints about the weather, about running and about the tough decision of whether to wear a hat (for rain) or a sweatband. We tie our shoes, put on our fuel belts and start our warmup walk.

After warming up, we say, “you ready?” at least three times before we actually start running.

I feel the urge to run faster than normal, probably because I want this run to be over and because I feel surprisingly well. I push the pace during the first mile or so, until one of them asks me what my hurry is. I slow up, so we hang together and chat for a few miles.

We run close together and keep our pepper spray ready as we past the spot that was in the news recently. (I’m not stupid, I’m careful and cautious, but I also don’t like to allow the bad things of life to control my world) 

After a few miles, we stop at a convenience store near the trail. Leaving there we put on our headphones and our chatter dies down. The sky darkens for a short time and it rains briefly before the clouds clear somewhat and the sun peeps out.

I feel strong and the minutes pass quickly. We planned to do our normal 3/1 throughout the run, but I found the walking breaks are coming too often. I’m amazed how good I feel, especially considering my crappy attitude earlier. To stay with the others, I loop back a few times.

My lungs, my legs… everything feels good and I’m so thankful to be running!

After 18 miles!

Eighteen (that’s 18!) miles later, we finish. And we’re all smiling. The smiles might be because we had a good run, or because finishing never felt so good. But we’re all glad we did it.

I came home and posted this on Facebook…

Did I tell you that I love running!

Because that is what a good run will do for you!
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  • Mae Lynn

    What a great post! I was thinking about you after seeing that picture on FB. You are going to be unstoppable at the #RWHalf. Corps Fitness + runs like this? I’m thinking PR for you. :D

  • bbubblyb bbubblyb

    I loved this post :) always feels great once you get going I agree :) You are a power house woman!!!!