It's official...Deer Hunting is full force. I ran with T yesterday morning, and the color BLAZE ORANGE dottted the fields and forests. We were wearing our bright colors as well. No sense in getting shot at (especially since we ran faster than I normally run for an off-season training run) by eager huntsmen. Off season. What does that really mean? It means I don't have any races planned until 2013. It means for the next 4 weeks I make my own schedule up. I have to rely on my ability to feel where I'm at and plan accordingly. It DOES NOT mean I take time off. I spent 11 years of my life NOT running while raising young children. What I do NOT need is time off! People slow with age. Next March, I will be 35 years old. This is the year I'm hoping to run fast enough to be elite status. It would be great to run sub 6 pace for a 10k by the year's end. T says I should run a marathon this coming fall. The time and dedication it takes to run a great marathon is just too daunting at this point in my life. And when I run my first marathon, I want to be READY! Here goes something! Every day brings new challenges, obstacles, barriers. It is our job to face each day with confidence and hope. We are capable of so much once we break down the walls that are keeping us confined to our average selves. Happy Running!

Long day, but we keep on keeping on...

I've had many long hard days. My life is full of those "last minute, get it done quick, wait until your feet fall asleep" kind of days. Days full of so much bipolar you would think I bought stock in antidepressants. But today was different. Because yesterday, I made a conscious effort to just be in the moment and not think so much. After a long day at work (teaching finally feels like an actual job...good, or bad, it is what it is) I'm having a long night at home. I did get 3.5 miles in. My running is taking high priority. For me, this change in my life is positive. Please don't look at this situation like I'm abandoning other responsibilities. The other responsibilities are still important, but do what you love with all your heart. That's a great motto to live by. Tomorrow is a 10 mile hard run with Tony. I have to run it at about 7:10 pace. Not so bad, totally attainable. I'm excited to run with him again. He has taken a lot of time off because of injury. Now that he's back in action, life feels normal again! As I close off this Monday night, I think about the tragedy that is life itself. There is no guarantee that we have another day, and when life gets tough...remember...it's no big deal. If you look at life like your stressful situations are "no big deal" you will see how very right you really are. Yes, life is full of tragedy, minescule and massive; but just keep on keeping on. What you think of as a big deal today, is really "no big deal" at all!

Thinking of Moving While I'm Standing Still

Thinking of Moving While I'm Standing Still I just happened upon my old blog tonight. I was "cleaning" out my favorites and tripped over my blog spot by accident. Just for kicks, I decided to check out the old blog... What is it about moving forward that scares me? Is it the fear of doing something well enough that I have to top that with an even better performance? Is it the fear of eventual failure? Or is it just easier to quit while you're ahead...or maybe not ahead, but close enough you can feel it? Moving forward means you are in motion. Motion brings change and challenge. Change and challenge bring risk and reward. I would rather punish myself. Stopping forward progress is my punishment. Why do I punish myself? Well, I can't tell you WHY, but I can break down the WHAT. 1. I eat before I run, and it's ever so painful to run with a full stomach. 2. I take days off of running for no apparent reason. I have run before when life got stressful, and it has never been an issue. I just make a lot of meaningless excuses. 3. I psych myself out before big races. The end result is usually a decent but less than desired performance. 4. I struggle with my "diet." I would love to be a true Nutritarian, but am way too tempted by junk. 5. My self image is pretty terrible. There are days I feel great about myself, but most of the time I'm insecure and terrified of what others think of me. Punishment. Not moving forward to see how GREAT life could be. Always holding back enough to be average. Never excelling. This post isn't meant to pour pity all over myself. I just needed to put down in writing, what it is that keeps me standing still. I think I would like to move forward now. ~Happy Trails