Daily Stats:
Route: Deadend and Back
Distance: 1.5 miles
Total time: 23
In zone: ? minutes
Ave. Hr.: 122
Max. Hr: 137
Cals burned:
Temp:
I got out on the road at about 6:30 this morning. It was humid out this morning, but still a good run. When I was done with my run, I apparently didn't hit the stop button so I'm not sure these stats are accurate. If they are I am almost at a 15 minute mile.
Wednesday
Monday
Monday, June 21, 2010
Daily stats
Route: Deadend/Browns Driveway/Rockpile
Distance: 2 miles
Total time: 33:17
In zone: 20 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 122
Max. Hr: 137
Cals burned: 568
Food is in its place today and that's all I'm going to say about that. This morning's run was great. I still have trouble with endurance, but I think my time is improving.
Route: Deadend/Browns Driveway/Rockpile
Distance: 2 miles
Total time: 33:17
In zone: 20 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 122
Max. Hr: 137
Cals burned: 568
Food is in its place today and that's all I'm going to say about that. This morning's run was great. I still have trouble with endurance, but I think my time is improving.
Friday
Friday, June 18, 2010
Daily stats:
Route: Deadend/1/2 mile loop/back
Distance: 1.7 miles
Total time: 30:10
In zone: 18 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 121
Max. Hr: 136
Cals burned: 452
Got out on the road a little after 9:00 this morning. I stopped at Melisa's because the kids were going to walk the rest of the way with me, but she needed to drop some things off so they rode and I walked. Today felt sooooo good. It was perfect - an occasional drop here and there, a nice breeze, not too warm, and very little sun.
I collected some more smaller stones for my garden. Claire helped me water the flowers while I did my cool down.
Route: Deadend/1/2 mile loop/back
Distance: 1.7 miles
Total time: 30:10
In zone: 18 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 121
Max. Hr: 136
Cals burned: 452
Got out on the road a little after 9:00 this morning. I stopped at Melisa's because the kids were going to walk the rest of the way with me, but she needed to drop some things off so they rode and I walked. Today felt sooooo good. It was perfect - an occasional drop here and there, a nice breeze, not too warm, and very little sun.
I collected some more smaller stones for my garden. Claire helped me water the flowers while I did my cool down.
Wednesday
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
It's kind of a gloomy day out today - threatening to rain, so I opted for the treadmill. It's harder to keep my heartrate up on the treadmill and I'm not sure why. It seems like I'm working harder and I'm actually not. I much prefer outside; plus I don't get my reward of stones for the garden.
I discovered a new site yesterday thanks to a visit from Melanie. It's really cool. I like the training widget. You also have the option of posting your workout on Facebook. I did that, and then thought about taking it off of there, but then figure - oh what the heck, no one really cares anyway and it might inspire someone. I know I'm inspired when I see people who don't look like athletes posting on Facebook.
Food was a little shakey yesterday. I need to reign it in a bit.
My left foot started aching yesterday. It ached this morning and kept me from giving my all on the treadmill. I don't know if I pulled a muscle or what.
I discovered a new site yesterday thanks to a visit from Melanie. It's really cool. I like the training widget. You also have the option of posting your workout on Facebook. I did that, and then thought about taking it off of there, but then figure - oh what the heck, no one really cares anyway and it might inspire someone. I know I'm inspired when I see people who don't look like athletes posting on Facebook.
Food was a little shakey yesterday. I need to reign it in a bit.
My left foot started aching yesterday. It ached this morning and kept me from giving my all on the treadmill. I don't know if I pulled a muscle or what.
Tuesday
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Route: Deadend/Browns Driveway/Rockpile
Distance: 1.7 miles
Total time: 31:14
In zone: 23 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 122
Max. Hr: 132
Cals burned: 476
Temp: 65
Got out on the road at 7:50. It was a nice jog. I noticed that I am running longer and resting less between beeps on my HRM. That's a good thing. Having parameters that basically involve one meal at a time makes it a lot easier to get back on track. Food was in its place yesterday and the scale rewarded me. But as I said, the scale is just a tool. My motivation now comes from how I feel when I am sane around food.
Distance: 1.7 miles
Total time: 31:14
In zone: 23 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 122
Max. Hr: 132
Cals burned: 476
Temp: 65
Got out on the road at 7:50. It was a nice jog. I noticed that I am running longer and resting less between beeps on my HRM. That's a good thing. Having parameters that basically involve one meal at a time makes it a lot easier to get back on track. Food was in its place yesterday and the scale rewarded me. But as I said, the scale is just a tool. My motivation now comes from how I feel when I am sane around food.
Monday
Monday, June 14, 2010
Food was not in its place yesterday. Not sure why I had a slip up but it is what it is and that was yesterday. Food is in its place today - the slip up makes it harder to stay the course, but I'm doing it. I didn't get out this morning - no hot shower water. Harold will be back tonight to fix it.
Sunday
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Food is still in its place - thanks be to God.
I got out on the road at about 9:10 this morning.
Route: Deadend and Back
Distance: 1.5 miles
Total time: 25:26
In zone: 15 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 120
Max. Hr: 132
Cals burned: 375
Temp: 63
It's cooler out this morning, but it is still humid. The soys up by the deadend are growing taller and soon it will be hard to see any deer. I didn't see any this morning, but I did see a flock of turkey buzzards up by Walter's Woods. They creep me out! My time was pretty good this morning considering that I stopped on the way back to pick up some stones I just had to have for the garden. I found a really big one just past Melisa and Justin's house. See how my garden is filling out?
I have all of the big stones I need for the porch area. I have been collecting smaller stones to fill in the bed.
I got out on the road at about 9:10 this morning.
Route: Deadend and Back
Distance: 1.5 miles
Total time: 25:26
In zone: 15 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 120
Max. Hr: 132
Cals burned: 375
Temp: 63
It's cooler out this morning, but it is still humid. The soys up by the deadend are growing taller and soon it will be hard to see any deer. I didn't see any this morning, but I did see a flock of turkey buzzards up by Walter's Woods. They creep me out! My time was pretty good this morning considering that I stopped on the way back to pick up some stones I just had to have for the garden. I found a really big one just past Melisa and Justin's house. See how my garden is filling out?
Saturday
Saturday, June 12, 2010
It's a warm muggy day and I didn't go out this morning.
I am on day 4 of food being in its place. I have discovered that the joy of keeping food in its place far outweighs the momentary gratification of that compulsive episode. It takes an incredible amount of mental discipline, but I'm thinking that the longer I do it, the easier it will become. At the moment I have clicked into a place where I am fairly comfortable most of the time. I check the scale daily, but only as a barometer of how I am doing with portion sizes. It is no longer a symbol of success or failure because this journey is about so much more than getting to a number on the scale. It is about reclaiming my life.
People who are not compulsive eaters could never understand that, in the same way that people who have never smoked can't possible understand what drives people to cigarettes. When I finally quit smoking for the last time, it was because I finally understood that I simply could not ever have "just one." And I haven't. Not one puff in almost 10 years. I would have to say that it was probably a couple of years before a day would go by when I wouldn't "mourn" the loss. But now I very rarely think about it, and never with the thought that I would ever want to go back. With food, it is a little different. You just can't quit food cold turkey. In OA I learned to define "abstinence" with food in terms of setting parameters. For me those parameters are accountability (logging my intake into my food software), limits (roughly 1600 calories), and time frames (4 meals spaced roughly 3 hours apart). If my food does not meet these qualifications, I am not abstinent.
Although it may sound constricting to have these limits, it's actually a very freeing process. It eliminates the bargaining, the arguing, and the rationalizing.
I am still more preoccupied with food than I would like to be, but not nearly as much as when there were no parameters. If an ANT pops into my head I say "no" and take three deep breaths. Interestingly enough, that was the same modus operandus that I used when I was quitting smoking. Hmmmmmm, only took me 10 years to have that occur to me.
I am on day 4 of food being in its place. I have discovered that the joy of keeping food in its place far outweighs the momentary gratification of that compulsive episode. It takes an incredible amount of mental discipline, but I'm thinking that the longer I do it, the easier it will become. At the moment I have clicked into a place where I am fairly comfortable most of the time. I check the scale daily, but only as a barometer of how I am doing with portion sizes. It is no longer a symbol of success or failure because this journey is about so much more than getting to a number on the scale. It is about reclaiming my life.
People who are not compulsive eaters could never understand that, in the same way that people who have never smoked can't possible understand what drives people to cigarettes. When I finally quit smoking for the last time, it was because I finally understood that I simply could not ever have "just one." And I haven't. Not one puff in almost 10 years. I would have to say that it was probably a couple of years before a day would go by when I wouldn't "mourn" the loss. But now I very rarely think about it, and never with the thought that I would ever want to go back. With food, it is a little different. You just can't quit food cold turkey. In OA I learned to define "abstinence" with food in terms of setting parameters. For me those parameters are accountability (logging my intake into my food software), limits (roughly 1600 calories), and time frames (4 meals spaced roughly 3 hours apart). If my food does not meet these qualifications, I am not abstinent.
Although it may sound constricting to have these limits, it's actually a very freeing process. It eliminates the bargaining, the arguing, and the rationalizing.
I am still more preoccupied with food than I would like to be, but not nearly as much as when there were no parameters. If an ANT pops into my head I say "no" and take three deep breaths. Interestingly enough, that was the same modus operandus that I used when I was quitting smoking. Hmmmmmm, only took me 10 years to have that occur to me.
Friday
Friday, June 11, 2010
I got out on the road at about 9:15 this morning.
Route: Deadend/Browns Driveway/Rockpile
Distance: 1.7 miles
Total time: 32:35
In zone: 22 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 122
Max. Hr: 134
Cals burned: 498
Temp: 66
I forgot to mention in my last running post that I saw 3 white-tailed deer up on the deadend. I saw their tracks this morning, but no sign of the deer. I did see a bunch of monkeys on the corner. Clayton and Claire were playing on the porch with their cousins Bryan and Sarah. The great thing about grandkids is that they are always excited to see you. Clay and Claire love to come over here. It's so much fun having them around. It's like I get to relive some of the best years of my life.
Back to this morning's route. When I got to the deadend I was greeted by the sight of rolled up hay bales. They smelled wonderful. It's mornings like these when I can pinpoint why I love living in the country.
I am happy to say that I am on day three food of keeping food in its place, one day at a time. Sometimes it's a struggle, but I when I am having a bad moment, I think of the people who have diseases over which they have no control and then I remember to be grateful for what I have.
Route: Deadend/Browns Driveway/Rockpile
Distance: 1.7 miles
Total time: 32:35
In zone: 22 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 122
Max. Hr: 134
Cals burned: 498
Temp: 66
I forgot to mention in my last running post that I saw 3 white-tailed deer up on the deadend. I saw their tracks this morning, but no sign of the deer. I did see a bunch of monkeys on the corner. Clayton and Claire were playing on the porch with their cousins Bryan and Sarah. The great thing about grandkids is that they are always excited to see you. Clay and Claire love to come over here. It's so much fun having them around. It's like I get to relive some of the best years of my life.
Back to this morning's route. When I got to the deadend I was greeted by the sight of rolled up hay bales. They smelled wonderful. It's mornings like these when I can pinpoint why I love living in the country.
I am happy to say that I am on day three food of keeping food in its place, one day at a time. Sometimes it's a struggle, but I when I am having a bad moment, I think of the people who have diseases over which they have no control and then I remember to be grateful for what I have.
Thursday
Thursday, June 10, 2010
I almost hate to post that I think our wireless issues are behind us. I have been slacking in the workout department, but I hope to make up for it in the next three days. I have been going back to online OA meetings and food is in it's place - for today. (focusing on the patch of ground in front of me). The weather has moderated a bit and that is very nice.
Monday
Monday, June 7, 2010
I got out on the road at about 7:10 this morning.
Route: Deadend and Back
Distance: 1.5 miles
Total time: 25:27
In zone: 7 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 118
Max. Hr: 126
Cals burned: 361
Temp: 45
It was chilly enough this morning that I had to wear a jacket. I didn't move very fast today. Just couldn't seem to get my speed up, but I did get out there.
Route: Deadend and Back
Distance: 1.5 miles
Total time: 25:27
In zone: 7 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 118
Max. Hr: 126
Cals burned: 361
Temp: 45
It was chilly enough this morning that I had to wear a jacket. I didn't move very fast today. Just couldn't seem to get my speed up, but I did get out there.
Sunday
Sunday, June 6, 2010
It's really hard for me to believe I haven't blogged here in a week. Our internet service has been very unreliable and it seemed that every time I was ready to post something, we were down. I put the "phone as modem" service back on for the time being. It's been a very frustrating three months. Yesterday we were up and running at lightning speed, but it didn't last. Hopefully it will be fixed some time this year.
I've been out a couple times this week, but we've had a lot of rain. The treadmill just doesn't seem to lend itself to deep thought, but it keeps the gears oiled, so to speak.
Lately I've found myself having to come to terms with the fact that I am now an "old lady." When did that happen? When did exercise change from a "vanity" thing to a "survival" thing? It sounds so cliche when older people (of which I am now one) say, "it seems like only yesterday." The fact is cliches have their roots in truth. That's how they become cliches.
Now that I am pushing 60 (sheesh, I still can't fathom that) I find myself thinking, "who cares?" Well, my grandkids do. For some reason they find me cool. But I can't do this for anyone else. I have to do it for me, and I have to find a way to convince myself that it is worth the effort. I didn't get on the treadmill today because I wanted to blog instead. But that's an excuse. I have all day to blog.
Once I'm out on the road, all is good, but it's the getting there. Why is that so hard? I find that transitions ARE hard for me, whether it's changing bosses, or just coming in the door after a long day. I don't do well with transitions so I try to speed through them. But in my dotage I am finding that transitions are often more important than they would appear. One day we're changing the diapers of our babies and the next day we're changing the diapers of our babies' baby. It happens in the blink of an eye and we don't see it coming and we don't see it going. I think the key is to be present in those transitions. Pay attention to what is going on, because it is there that life takes us in new directions. And if we're not paying attention, we wake up one day and find that we are suddenly 58, not 38, and we have no idea how we got here. One day at a time we have told ourselves, "tomorrow, tomorrow is the day I take charge of my life. Tomorrow I will start that diet. Tomorrow I will start exercising." Sad fact is, the change takes place today - not tomorrow. If you're waiting for tomorrow to make a change in your life, you will soon find that life has changed you.
I've been out a couple times this week, but we've had a lot of rain. The treadmill just doesn't seem to lend itself to deep thought, but it keeps the gears oiled, so to speak.
Lately I've found myself having to come to terms with the fact that I am now an "old lady." When did that happen? When did exercise change from a "vanity" thing to a "survival" thing? It sounds so cliche when older people (of which I am now one) say, "it seems like only yesterday." The fact is cliches have their roots in truth. That's how they become cliches.
Now that I am pushing 60 (sheesh, I still can't fathom that) I find myself thinking, "who cares?" Well, my grandkids do. For some reason they find me cool. But I can't do this for anyone else. I have to do it for me, and I have to find a way to convince myself that it is worth the effort. I didn't get on the treadmill today because I wanted to blog instead. But that's an excuse. I have all day to blog.
Once I'm out on the road, all is good, but it's the getting there. Why is that so hard? I find that transitions ARE hard for me, whether it's changing bosses, or just coming in the door after a long day. I don't do well with transitions so I try to speed through them. But in my dotage I am finding that transitions are often more important than they would appear. One day we're changing the diapers of our babies and the next day we're changing the diapers of our babies' baby. It happens in the blink of an eye and we don't see it coming and we don't see it going. I think the key is to be present in those transitions. Pay attention to what is going on, because it is there that life takes us in new directions. And if we're not paying attention, we wake up one day and find that we are suddenly 58, not 38, and we have no idea how we got here. One day at a time we have told ourselves, "tomorrow, tomorrow is the day I take charge of my life. Tomorrow I will start that diet. Tomorrow I will start exercising." Sad fact is, the change takes place today - not tomorrow. If you're waiting for tomorrow to make a change in your life, you will soon find that life has changed you.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Daily Stats:
I got out on the road at about 8:15 this morning.
Route: Deadend/Brown's Driveway/Back
Distance: 2 miles
Total time: 34.22 minutes
Pace: 17:11 minutes per mile
In zone: 22 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 121
Max. Hr: 135
Cals burned: 208
Temp: 68
As achy as I felt last night, I felt terrific this morning. I had planned on taking the morning off because I didn't think I'd feel like getting out there. I added another rock to my flower bed. Soon I will be done with the rock border and will begin collecting stones to fill in the rest. The flower garden is my tangible testament to getting out there and putting in my time on the road. I do a little bit of sprucing up each day. Gardening is not my thing, but I love the results and in small time chunks (focusing only on the patch of road in front of me) I can reap great rewards.
I am focusing on diet again because, let's face it, you can run until you're blue in the face (literally) but if the food isn't in its place you get nowhere fast. Again, this is a matter of "focusing only on the patch of road in front of me." You will be seeing that phrase a lot from now on because it is my new mantra, if you will.
There is a lot to be said for living that way. When you focus on your own progress, you are more content in life. You learn to be grateful for what you have - you are more geared toward wanting what you have rather than looking to have everything you want.
I can't remember where I heard the saying, "you can't give away what you don't have." Taking care of yourself is not selfish, it is an investment in being able to be there for others.
My aren't I deep today.
*********Update****************
I just found the official postings for yesterday:
Anna: (5k walk) 45:57
Melisa: (8 mile) 1:20:52
Mary: (5k walk/run) 48:28
I got out on the road at about 8:15 this morning.
Route: Deadend/Brown's Driveway/Back
Distance: 2 miles
Total time: 34.22 minutes
Pace: 17:11 minutes per mile
In zone: 22 minutes
Ave. Hr.: 121
Max. Hr: 135
Cals burned: 208
Temp: 68
As achy as I felt last night, I felt terrific this morning. I had planned on taking the morning off because I didn't think I'd feel like getting out there. I added another rock to my flower bed. Soon I will be done with the rock border and will begin collecting stones to fill in the rest. The flower garden is my tangible testament to getting out there and putting in my time on the road. I do a little bit of sprucing up each day. Gardening is not my thing, but I love the results and in small time chunks (focusing only on the patch of road in front of me) I can reap great rewards.
I am focusing on diet again because, let's face it, you can run until you're blue in the face (literally) but if the food isn't in its place you get nowhere fast. Again, this is a matter of "focusing only on the patch of road in front of me." You will be seeing that phrase a lot from now on because it is my new mantra, if you will.
There is a lot to be said for living that way. When you focus on your own progress, you are more content in life. You learn to be grateful for what you have - you are more geared toward wanting what you have rather than looking to have everything you want.
I can't remember where I heard the saying, "you can't give away what you don't have." Taking care of yourself is not selfish, it is an investment in being able to be there for others.
My aren't I deep today.
*********Update****************
I just found the official postings for yesterday:
Anna: (5k walk) 45:57
Melisa: (8 mile) 1:20:52
Mary: (5k walk/run) 48:28
Saturday
Saturday, May 29, 2010 - Highland Festival 5K
The race started at 9:15 in front of Dunning Chapel on the Alma College Campus. I ran as a fundraiser for Youth For Christ, but I wore the Scott Johnston memorial tee shirt. Hopefully I will get a copy of the Johnston clan picture that I can post here.
Route: West down Superior, East to Fairlane, and up Harvard Avenue
Distance: 3.1 miles
Total time: 48:28
Pace: 15:57 minutes per mile
Ave. Hr.: 136
Max. Hr: 158
Cals burned: 460 (I am now dividing the number on my monitor by 2 - seems more accurate)
This race is a little different in that the streets are lined with people watching. My group started at 9:15. The 8 mile group had green bibs, my group (the walk/run group) had white, and the walkers had yellow. The walkers started 2 minutes later than we did. Twenty seconds out, I was pretty much left in the dust. I was the lone white sheeter behind a whole mob of others. Because the route doubled back on itself, I could see people who had passed me 2 minutes earlier meeting me on the way east. Then the yellow bibs started passing me. Little old men in their 70s passed me. Fathers pushing double strollers passed me. Teenagers chatting breezily and effortlessly passed me. People ambling along, and not all that fast, passed me (and this was when I was running).
On the last mile, Anna passed me - Anna who was doing her first 5K ever. She just walked right on by and left me about 1/4 mile behind her up until the finish. (Remember, the girl started 2 minutes after I did.) After I crossed the finish line, I forgot to turn off my watch right away so my time was a little better than what I posted above. Anna came in at 46 something. It wasn't until I caught up with her that I remembered to hit the time button. We headed for the water table and went back to join Justin, Clayton, and Claire, whom we had seen along the route, and waited for Melisa to finish her run. She did the 8 mile run. I don't know what her time was because she, like me, forgot to look at the time clock. Considering where she was a year and a half ago, it is nothing short of amazing.
As I sit here thinking about today's run, many thoughts run through my mind. When a person is out on a country road all by herself, it's easy to imagine herself as streak on the landscape. 5K races bring her back to reality. Even though I am not a stellar walker, let alone runner, these 5Ks serve a very important function; they get me out the door on ordinary mornings with the promise of "someday." They also force me to take an honest look at myself. Out on that country road, I am a long, lean running machine; I am reliving the 80s. But the picture we took at today's race shows me that I am a long way from there. I may never get there, but I will never give up trying. That's me.
My time is better than the last 5K I did, but I worked a lot harder, went above my HR zone most of the time, and didn't have a 4 year old "holding me back." (Actually, it was a bit of a struggle to keep up with the 4-year-old at the last race.) I am taking small bites and making slow but steady progress. I am further along than I was last week, and next week I will be further along than I am now.
As I did today, I am tuning out the negative voices in my head that tell me how often I have failed, and I am focusing solely on the small patch of ground in front of me. It's all I can do. It's all any of us can do because we can't run the mile until we've run the quarter mile. If we never run the quarter mile because it isn't a big lofty goal, then we really never get anywhere. The mile is made up of a couple thousand steps, and the ones at the end are no more important than the ones at the beginning.
Tonight I am walking like an old lady. Every joint aches. It's one thing to run 2 miles on a country road and quite another to do it on cement for 3.2 miles. But tomorrow, come sunup, I will be out there again - a streak on the landscape - a long lean running machine - if only in my own mind.
*****************************************
Route: West down Superior, East to Fairlane, and up Harvard Avenue
Distance: 3.1 miles
Total time: 48:28
Pace: 15:57 minutes per mile
Ave. Hr.: 136
Max. Hr: 158
Cals burned: 460 (I am now dividing the number on my monitor by 2 - seems more accurate)
This race is a little different in that the streets are lined with people watching. My group started at 9:15. The 8 mile group had green bibs, my group (the walk/run group) had white, and the walkers had yellow. The walkers started 2 minutes later than we did. Twenty seconds out, I was pretty much left in the dust. I was the lone white sheeter behind a whole mob of others. Because the route doubled back on itself, I could see people who had passed me 2 minutes earlier meeting me on the way east. Then the yellow bibs started passing me. Little old men in their 70s passed me. Fathers pushing double strollers passed me. Teenagers chatting breezily and effortlessly passed me. People ambling along, and not all that fast, passed me (and this was when I was running).
On the last mile, Anna passed me - Anna who was doing her first 5K ever. She just walked right on by and left me about 1/4 mile behind her up until the finish. (Remember, the girl started 2 minutes after I did.) After I crossed the finish line, I forgot to turn off my watch right away so my time was a little better than what I posted above. Anna came in at 46 something. It wasn't until I caught up with her that I remembered to hit the time button. We headed for the water table and went back to join Justin, Clayton, and Claire, whom we had seen along the route, and waited for Melisa to finish her run. She did the 8 mile run. I don't know what her time was because she, like me, forgot to look at the time clock. Considering where she was a year and a half ago, it is nothing short of amazing.
As I sit here thinking about today's run, many thoughts run through my mind. When a person is out on a country road all by herself, it's easy to imagine herself as streak on the landscape. 5K races bring her back to reality. Even though I am not a stellar walker, let alone runner, these 5Ks serve a very important function; they get me out the door on ordinary mornings with the promise of "someday." They also force me to take an honest look at myself. Out on that country road, I am a long, lean running machine; I am reliving the 80s. But the picture we took at today's race shows me that I am a long way from there. I may never get there, but I will never give up trying. That's me.
My time is better than the last 5K I did, but I worked a lot harder, went above my HR zone most of the time, and didn't have a 4 year old "holding me back." (Actually, it was a bit of a struggle to keep up with the 4-year-old at the last race.) I am taking small bites and making slow but steady progress. I am further along than I was last week, and next week I will be further along than I am now.
As I did today, I am tuning out the negative voices in my head that tell me how often I have failed, and I am focusing solely on the small patch of ground in front of me. It's all I can do. It's all any of us can do because we can't run the mile until we've run the quarter mile. If we never run the quarter mile because it isn't a big lofty goal, then we really never get anywhere. The mile is made up of a couple thousand steps, and the ones at the end are no more important than the ones at the beginning.
Tonight I am walking like an old lady. Every joint aches. It's one thing to run 2 miles on a country road and quite another to do it on cement for 3.2 miles. But tomorrow, come sunup, I will be out there again - a streak on the landscape - a long lean running machine - if only in my own mind.
*****************************************
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)