Om Away From Home Does Wonders

 

It’s amazing what a change of scenery, an open mind, the presence of like-minded people, a yoga mat & a surfboard can do for perspective, confidence & a bruised spirit. I just returned from Anamaya, a week-long yoga retreat in Montezuma, Costa Rica where we did yoga twice a day, surfed each day (some stellar waves mind you), & ate delectably healthy food accompanied by great conversations & many laughs. To say it was incredible is an understatement but capturing the experience with words is about as challenging as attempting flying crow pose (trust me, it’s tough). What I can express, though is the gratitude I have for being able, & allowing myself in this time of transition, to take this trip as well as for the people I met along the way … including getting reacquainted with the Molly I haven’t seen in a while.

 

This past year has truly been a roller coaster ride of loss, self-doubt & unknowns sprinkled with a few happy accomplishments & experiences. Losing my Dad to cancer last summer was something that shook me so strongly & it left me feeling a bit disoriented. A few months later the company I was working for made a sudden announcement that the doors would be closing & all 240 employees would be laid off. It was a shock but I will say that the loss of my Dad did give me perspective on the loss of my job & that it is just a job. What was the hardest, though was just feeling like I didn’t have direction or a distraction as I was grieving. There’s the tendency to define ourselves by our family & work so when both were altered for me at the same time it was challenging to feel as though I had little control of much in my life. That was tough on my spirit & self confidence.

What did help were experiences. I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to go to Greece & run THE authentic marathon which I will cherish forever as it was a gift from my Dad. It was bittersweet since he had planned to be there but I proudly ran in his memory. Meeting wonderful people, seeing a new country & the sense of accomplishment from running my fifth marathon boosted my spirits & the running high stayed with me for some time. But that feeling does fade with time as we settle back into routine & life continues to happen. I felt stuck.

 

And today, just a few days after a very memorable trip to Costa Rica, I’m feeling less stuck, rejuvenated, more confident. My heart was filled by beautiful people, magical scenery, new challenges on the yoga mat & surfboard, plenty of sun-soaking, & days of feeling present. Will this feeling fade? Yes, but I’m focused on keeping it alive in my every day by filling it with things & people I enjoy. It’s a challenge but I have the choice to stay stuck or be like the old Molly that moves on to enjoy life & seeks out new challenges. I choose the latter even if I’m moving towards a future that is not clear at the moment. I want to see this time in my life as exciting (even if it’s quite daunting) as I look for a job that is satisfying, set new goals for physical & personal challenges all while appreciating & staying connected with the people in my life that I can truly count on. I’ll have days when this sentiment may not be at the forefront of my thoughts but I’m hoping & planning to have less of those days & more days of feeling all that I took away from Anamaya. Looking to the future ~ Namaste.

 

~ Happy Birthday to Me! ~

I love birthdays.  Mine & others.  They’re like our own personal New Year where we can reflect on the previous year(s), look forward to what lies ahead, & have gratitude for being able to celebrate another year.  Oh, and eat cake.  My birthday is tomorrow & I’ve been reflecting much more this year since it dawns after the toughest year I’ve ever had & now, I’m looking forward to looking forward more & being even more grateful.  Oh, and of course having cake.

My marathon motivation! Thanks Jen for this fabulous surprise at the Marine Corps Marathon!

Last year at this time things were ‘normal’ & the big thought on my mind was leaving my 30s & turning 40. (40?? How did that happen??)  I had decided to take on a challenge for my birthday ‘celebration’ & registered for the To the Bridge & Back 5-Mile river swim.  Swimming distances & any swimming other than playing in the ocean has been new for me in the past two years so I thought this would be a great,  yet crazy, way to kick off 40.  It was a beautiful day, my Dad & others came to watch, I finished, albeit slowly, & I was pretty ecstatic about the accomplishment.  40 was starting off pretty well.

Candid shot taken by Brian Lilley. I treasure this photo, thank you.

Then came the end of October when my Dad was diagnosed with cancer & it rocked our worlds.   “Wait, what?! How? Why?”.  A brief time was spent on these questions in my mind but then it was all about “What will we do to fight this?”.  Johns Hopkins became the boxing ring that he was fighting in & oh, what a determined, graceful, & brave fight he fought supported by some incredible doctors.  They’d given him 12 to 18 months this past February which were words we’d never dreamed we’d hear.  More thoughts: “That can’t be possible!  He’s newly married & they have plans!  And, I want him around!”  But, we went back to fighting & more importantly, we all savored our time together much more whether at the hospital or at home.

My Dad’s wife, Marianthi, was by his side through it all.

Sadly, very sadly, my Dad passed away on June 11th.  Not 12 months later.  Nor 18 months.  Only four months later.  So yes, I’ve been reflecting quite a lot over the past few months.  Grieving really.  I realize ‘normal’ is turning into a new ‘normal’.  There isn’t a day I don’t think of him & there have been countless times I’ve gone to pick up the phone to call & just say hi.   He always found the most beautiful cards for me on my birthday & other holidays & not getting one this year will be abnormal & sad. He’d planned to come to the 5-mile swim again this year but I very recently decided not to swim because the memory of him cheering me on last year was bringing on such emotion.  I realize these are stages, feelings will ebb & flow, & I’m allowing myself to feel it all while holding on to the precious memories.  Time.

My ‘New Year’ is beginning in the midst of my training for the Athens, Greece marathon.  A gift from my Dad.  We were driving to Johns Hopkins for one of his appointments in March of this year & he asked if I’d thought about doing another marathon.  I’d been trying to decide between doing triathlons or focusing on a marathon this year so I told him I wasn’t sure.  He said, “Well, how about running THE marathon in Greece?” (His new wife is Greek & they went to Athens for their honeymoon so he was in awe & knew I would be, too).  So, after being in complete disbelief about this incredible opportunity, I decided to train for my 5th marathon.  This ‘gift’ is so much more than the experience he wanted me to have.  It’s given me something to look forward to & to focus on. A healthy, mood-boosting distraction.  It’s been an emotional outlet & sanity saver (for the most part) during these past months.  I am more grateful than he’ll ever know.

After the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon. He’s a Marine.

The fact that so much has changed within one year makes me feel more grateful for the birthday I’m celebrating.  The ability to celebrate another year in good health is more important than the number of candles on my cake.  Each candle is a gift.  Oh, and if there are candles then there must be cake!  This ‘New Year’ that is beginning is full of unknowns which is exciting in itself & is a great time for me to set new goals that allow me to make the most of my celebrated life after a trying year that really was a blur.    What is known is that time & people special to us can easily be taken for granted & in this ‘New Year’ I want to do less of that & make the most of both.  Happy Birthday, & ‘New Year’, to me!

A card from The Keeline’s on my 30th birthday that I’ve framed.

What an emotional couple of days it’s been since the terrible loss of the hysterical, thoughtful, & kind, yet hopeless, Robin Williams. So many are feeling the loss, reflecting on their own & others’ situations, & talking about depression. This is a dialogue that is so necessary to have & to keep having because so many are, or know someone, battling it. This dialogue has given people the courage to step beyond the stigma & admit their own struggles with depression & have given experts the center stage to educate us more. Hopefully this will perpetuate the continued discussion & help to minimize the stigma, & not just in the wake of the loss of such an admired person when the tweets & posts are a ‘trend’ for a few days or a week or two.

For those that have not dealt with depression, it’s not as simple for some to just shake it off, go for a run, or think a happy thought, & voila, you’re better. I know this personally since I’m on the exit ramp of a not so fun, year-ish long bout of depression & believe me, if a run was the solution then I’d be the happiest person in the world from the many miles my shoes have tracked. Don’t get me wrong, exercise definitely helps but over the long run (ha, no pun intended & I’d run regardless of my feelings), it’s not the only solution … for me and millions of others.  Admitting this does make me self-conscious in a society that applauds strength, courage, & success, & doesn’t truly expect a response other than “Fine” or “Great” when we toss “How are you?” so freely throughout the day. But, I do see someone as very strong & very courageous when they are true to themselves & reach out for help, which can help lead to being successful in battling their struggles.

Reaching out can be the most daunting thing for someone, especially in our society that brings casseroles after surgeries but turns backs on people that aren’t happy for a change. Depression doesn’t have physical scars which does put most of the onus of reaching out on the ones hurting. Reaching out, connections, sense of belonging will help get us back on a happier & healthier path & even more important, choosing wisely from the people in your life. It’s so true what Robin Williams said, “I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone.” I’ll be here if anyone needs to talk or just be. We need more of that.

TEDx Inspiration …

What a day!  It was full of inspiration, motivation, reflection, community, and forward thinking … all with Sugar Shack donuts on top!  All of this greatness was brought to us by TEDx, specifically TEDx RVA Women, the organization I spent Tuesday & today volunteering with.  If you’re not familiar with TEDx (Technology, Entertainment, Design), it is a nonprofit devoted to providing the platform for the world’s most fascinating doers & thinkers to convey their “Ideas Worth Spreading”.  Each speaker talks on their area of expertise/interest/experience for between 3 & 18 minutes (check out YouTube & you’ll be hooked).  Today was the first time RVA hosted the TEDx Women event & it was very well attended, by both men & women.  There were 258 areas participating worldwide with San Francisco as the ‘hub’ in which simulcasts were streamed into our venues with renown speakers presenting, Diane Nyad being one ~ the swimmer who recently swam from FL to Cuba.  On our local level, we were graced with nearly 20 local women speakers ranging from an overachieving, numerous-patent owner 17-year-old promoting women in the science field to a make-up artist/actress revealing the insecurities & even self-loathing she & women express each day in her make-up chair.  There was so much to take away from each & every one.

I could go on & on with all that I took away from each woman but will rather share the jewels that have stayed with me:

“Don’t cruise in life”

“Go beyond your interest & fuel your belief”

“Write a permission slip for yourself to take care of yourself”

“We need nature to nurture”

“We need to play more”

“Look for the privileges right in front of you” 

“Failures are steps toward success”

“If there’s not a seat at the table then pull up a chair”

“Be comfortable with being uncomfortable”

“Connection is crucial”

“Accept you as you are”

Each talk was passionately spoken & unique, yet there were similar messages being delivered that we as women & people need reminding of.  Reminders that we ARE worthy, we ARE beautiful, we ARE stronger & MORE capable than we give ourselves credit, & very importantly, we have just ONE LIFE to make count.  Oh, how we all need these reminders from time to time.  And then we need to use those reminders to live the life with purpose that we want to live while encouraging/treating ourselves the way we would those we care about.  It’s simple, really.  And so worthwhile.  Yet, it can be a great challenge.

So, recapping today is one way that I’m personally trying to put these reminders to good use & overcome the challenge.  It’s a way to savor & reflect on the inspiration I felt today that left me feeling like I could conquer anything & it will be my reminder on those days of self doubt.  It’s also a reminder for you to remember the same.  So, let’s go live the life we want for ourselves.  Thanks TEDx.

And lastly, this is incredibly apropos today.  Oh, how much we’ve learned from him.  What a legacy he’s left behind.

Post-Race Blues Are Not Welcome …

So, you trained & trained, ran & ran, celebrated your awesomeness (I hope), enjoyed a day off, or two or three, from running, & … NOW WHAT?!  Have you already Googled upcoming races?  Did you do a workout you haven’t made a priority while you were training?  Or have you just enjoyed ‘not having’ to go for a run?  Whatever your answer, just know there is no right or wrong unless you haven’t taken time to BE PROUD of YOU & savor the entire experience.

Training for a 1/2 or full marathon (or any other goal really) takes commitment, dedication, sacrifice, courage, self-confidence, & of course, good running shoes.  There may have been times when you questioned your decision & sanity, days when your couch seemed to have arms that wouldn’t let you go, & runs that seemed like putting on your shoes in the first place was a bad decision.  But I think I can speak for everyone who ran & say that those days were a distant memory on race day, especially while crossing the finish line.  What an incredible feat!

It’s that feeling of accomplishment, attainment of a PR, encouragement & support from family/friends/spectators that makes those tough days, lost toenails, & Oreo withdrawals all worthwhile.  So, while you’re fretting over what race to do next or fighting the post-race blues, please just take time to pat yourself on the back, be fine with a nice walk instead of a timed run, & relish in your successful achievement of doing what you set out to do.  Way to go, YOU!!!

Race Day Success! …

What day was it?  RACE DAY!!  And what a race it was here in RVA with 9,117 of my fellow running friends regardless of the rain.  I woke up feeling excited & intent on achieving a few goals.  One was to enjoy the experience & take in the atmosphere.  Check.  Another was to not hold back at the beginning like I normally do in fear that I’ll hit ‘the wall’ towards the end.  Check.  And the other was to aim for a time of 1h:51m.  Check!  I have to proudly say that I exceeded that goal & yes, I’m still shocked but ecstatic! … and a bit sore but that’s completely alright with me.

Race day in Richmond is really incredibly electric & motivating.  The streets are lined with fabulous volunteers making this day possible, hysterical signs (i.e. “You’re running better than the Government” … “Channing Tatum is at the finish holding tiny puppies” … “Because 26.2 would just be crazy”), kids holding their hands out for high fives, bands playing all types of music, school cheerleading squads, random folks handing out orange slices, flat coke & even beer!  So it’s just a MUST to go out and enjoy this atmosphere.  So many people say that they’ll “Just be watching” the race but please know, YOU the spectator is oh so important for us runners.  That boost in energy we get when someone shouts our name, says something motivating when we’re starting to feel like ‘the wall’ is approaching, or even hops in & runs for a bit carries us through to reach our goals.  So, THANK YOU!

Reaching & surpassing that goal today was such a wonderful feeling & such a reminder that hard work, great support, & simply a good day when everything clicks makes it all possible.    I was originally in Corral C (I always want to ‘moo’ when I walk thru these) & as I was walking thru the crowds, I passed the pacers for 1:45 & 1:5o.  This got me thinking about having rabbits (people you chase to make you faster) like I did in training.  As ‘they’ say, don’t change things up on race day.  So, I took this to heart & hopped in with the 1:50 group since my goal was 1:51 (… but don’t tell anyone I covered my bib # so they couldn’t see I should be further back.)  This was one step towards my goal of starting out faster than I would normally.  And then two of my running buddies, Ginny Ann & Ben just happened to walk up right next to me & we would then be running together!!  They know my tendency to ‘slack’ because of said fear of ‘the wall’ & they were going to make sure I didn’t.  THANKS, friends!  I felt good about attaining the third goal at this point.

We were running & running & I couldn’t help but glance at my watch to see my times at each mile marker & we were sub 8 minutes for the first few miles (YIKES!! … wall please stay away!) & then we settled on about 8 minute miles for the remainder.  I kept having a sense of surprise because I felt GOOD at this pace & didn’t feel like I was going to give up a lung along the way … good thing because that would be doing something different on race day & that’s not allowed.   The sight of each mile marker was a great reminder that we were that much closer to the end & that this was RACE DAY, the day meant for pushing myself & setting a PR!  What that exact PR was going to be I wasn’t sure … until around mile 12 when Ginny Ann said “Alright, 1:46 or better”.  Whaaaattt???  I looked at my watch & saw that we’d run 1:36 to that point & surprisingly was still able to calculate but started doubting my math skills.  If we were running 8 minute miles then that could only mean we could possibly be to the finish in 8 minutes or in 1 hour 44 minutes!!  Whaaatttt???  And that’s just what we did!!!  We passed the cheering crowds, appreciated the down hill, & crossed the finish in 1:44:36!!  Goal attained & surpassed!! Check.

And now I’d like to have my Oscar moment & thank the people that helped me #goalcrush.  I started the season with MTT  (Marathon Training Team) as I have for the 3rd year now.  This is such an amazing team of enthusiastic & supportive coaches encouraging 1000+ marathoners over 25 weeks from June to race day.  Coach Jake & Cathy lead by example by being incredible runners themselves & just truly loving to run.  This made the decision tough about whether I should apply for the 1/2 marathon training team with CVE/lululemon or not.  But I saw it as just such an incredible & unique opportunity to gain insight & training from other perspectives.  So I applied & was fortunate to be one of seven to be trained by the very passionate, driven, & very accomplished pro triathlete/IronMan, Coach Bob Flanigan & inspiring, supportive, & also accomplished runner/IronMan, Ruthie Burke.  They were accompanied by the fabulous ladies of lululemon, Anna Claire Fourness, Hannah Hess, Jen Lewis, Natalie Gianninoto & Jordan Marotta, who brought us Yoga for Runners with Jen each Thursday, encouraged us to goal-set for our futures to help us live the lives we want, & simply brought sunshine to our group & track runs.  THANK YOU ALL!  And then there are my fellow runner friends … Sheri, Emma, Justin, Richard, Leigh, & Theresa.  WOW!  We each brought something different to the team but a few things we each had in common were our appreciation of being selected, the commitment to making the most of being part of this incredible team, & the genuine desire to support, encourage, & motivate each other.  Each and everyone of us (including Natalie & Anna Claire) had GREAT races & I think I can speak for all of us that these results wouldn’t have been quite as attainable without all we put into it as a team over the past 15 weeks.  So, I THANK YOU ALL for that & I’m very glad to have been a luludragon/lululemondrop with all of you.  CONGRATULATIONS on a great race & your incredible achievements … Spirit fingers!

Race Day Eve …

It’s the day before the race & all through my house

I’m a ravenous creature stirring, wanting to eat everything, well except maybe a mouse.

My lulu shirt, pants & shoes are laid out with care

With hopes the rain will flee the morning air.

Tonight, I will be nestled in early to bed

After devouring pasta & definitely some bread.

I hope to sleep soundly, much more than a nap

Waking up so ready for this race that’s on tap.

We’ve trained, & trained, & trained some more

With hopes we’ll accomplish PRs, better times than ever before.

 Coach Bob & Ruthie again by our side

 Will shout all of our names while beaming with pride.

“Run Emma!”, “Run Richard!”, “Run Justin!”, “Run Leigh!”

 “Run Sheri!”, “Run Molly!”, and “Run TMG!”

“To the front of your wave, get ahead of them all

 Now dash away, dash away, dash away ALL!”

GOOD LUCK CVE/LULULEMON TEAM!!!

Race Week! …

We’ve been running & running over the past 15 weeks & now we’re just days to race day.  Woo hoo!!  Our laps & laps around the track, making hills our friends, practicing running the tangent, & limbering yoga for runners has resulted in each of us on the CVE/lululemon team becoming faster & more confident in reaching our goal times this Saturday.  I’m really looking forward to pushing myself & as of yet, I haven’t had any rattling nerves about it … key phrase, as of yet.  So what is my goal?  Besides just enjoying the experience, taking in the energy from the crowds, & secretly being glad that I’m focusing on 13.1 miles rather than 26.2 this year (I guess it’s not a secret now), I’m setting out to beat my PR (personal record) of 1h:55m.  And honestly, I want to beat it by minutes not just seconds.

On Thursday after yoga Coach Bob Flanigan gave each of us our goal times based on our progress on the track, the training run times we logged into Training Peaks (an online running program), & our own personal goals.  He handed us individual envelopes with ‘THE’ time inside.  I’ve tried not to be so fixed on time other than beating my PR but I have to admit that once he gave it to us I got a little excited to see what was inside & what he believed I could accomplish.  Nothing wrong with a little validation, right?  So, I opened it & found 1h:51m looking at me.  Helloooo 1h:51m.  I think I actually smiled looking at it because I feel more confident than nervous about attaining it.

So, between today & Saturday is the notorious taper which means less running, more sleep, & more carbs with an extra dash of salt!! … the latter being a very tasty reason in itself of why I like to run.  I’ll also be thinking about running the course, crossing the finish line, & the sugary carbs I’ll treat myself with afterwards (see below).  After that?  I’m not exactly sure but I will admit that I have Googled upcoming races since I still have some miles left on these new running shoes.  Stay tuned if you’d like …

Run, Live, Be with Purpose …

“Run with purpose” is a phrase my fellow CVE/lululemon teammates & I have seen repeatedly over the past 11ish weeks in our running schedules from Coach Flanigan.  We’ve also been guided by the ladies of lululemon to set goals for the next 10 years leading us to our life’s vision.  Yep, 10 years!!  Is that task a bit intimidating for you like it is me?  Besides eating too much mashed potatoes & gravy & pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving & waiting ’til the last minute to Christmas shop, I’m not really sure what the next month will bring much less the next 10 years.  Yet, I agree that having ‘purpose’ is what gives us focus, leads to accomplishment, and gives intention to our days, weeks, years, etc.  So why is it so difficult & even scary?

It’s not that I’m not a planner exactly but the past few months have been full of change, obstacles, & opportunities (which obstacles usually turn into) & have really challenged my ability to firmly set the goals leading to my purpose.  I’ll state part of my purpose generally by saying it involves working with others to help them better their lifestyles while leading by example with a healthy lifestyle myself.  Putting that purpose out there is helpful in making it known to others, lends to a level of accountability in following through, and also feels vulnerable.  And being vulnerable is scary … very scary.  Why?  To me it’s scary because I wonder, “What if I don’t follow through?”, “What if I fail?”, “What will others think?”, “What this?”, “What that?”.  That stinkin’ thinkin’ & vulnerability gets in the way & can be distracting in reaching the end goal & vision. So, be vulnerable (yes, I need to take my own advice) because vocalizing goals is incredibly powerful in attracting people that can help you along your way.  It’s also empowering because you’re being authentic & taking the initiative to make your intentions reality to “Run {Live, Be} with Purpose”.

So yet again, I’m gaining insight on myself thru running.  Just another reason why I love it so much (another reason being that it eases the guilt when eating said pumpkin pie & mashed potatoes with gravy.)   And I’ve loved being part of this training team which is sadly coming to an end in nine days.  Although sad, it’s also wonderful because it’s a perfect example of how we’ve been consistently running with purpose towards our individual goals.  So, wish us luck & stay tuned for race day results … & the next 10 years ; ).

Sometimes the Hardest Part is Lacing Up the Shoes …

    T minus four weeks ‘til we, the CVE/lululemon Team, run the Richmond 1/2 Marathon with thousands of our closest friends.  Training has been going very well with having met a GREAT group of people & being trained by two INCREDIBLE coaches (thanks Bob & Ruthie!!, or Ru-Bob as Leigh cleverly named them!), having conquered increasing challenges on the track & hills each week, and all the while still looking forward to going back for more each week as part of a TEAM.  Yes, I’ll admit that there are times when staying in on a rainy day (& we have had MANY in the past two weeks) to catch up on the latest episode of Scandal & Grey’s Anatomy while eating Oreo’s is so much more enticing than lacing up the shoes for an hour+ run.  BUUUUT, once those shoes are on & I’m out the door, I’m so glad to have successfully resisted that Oreo temptation (did you see the recent article about Oreo addiction??) and instead, experienced the residual effects of the runner’s high. Which I have to admit is a much better alternative to the short-lived, although VERY tasty, Oreo buzz.  Plus, it’s more the sense of belonging to the TEAM that has truly kept me motivated & inspired, especially on those rainy days.

 

Tuesday is track day & leading up to it I just had no excitement for doing the track workout.  The weather had been icky for over a week & I think the whole seasonal/rain affective thing was creeping in.  My feet & hands were cold most of the afternoon so the idea of staying inside with my fluffy socks & favorite cozy blanket was very appealing.  Of course, I didn’t give in to the appeal because being part of this team is a great privilege & I have a sense of responsibility & accountability to my teammates & coaches to do my part.  I realize life gets in the way & there are times when we just can’t make it to a practice, but if I chose to curl up ‘just because’ then I’d be letting the team down.  And then I’d later grapple with the guilt of not working out & eating 2 rows of Oreos in one sitting … Ugh!  Sooooo, all of this was avoided Tuesday by lacing up my shoes & heading for the track!

 

At the track, we all chatted about this & that (mostly about the incredible Run Like A Girl race held Sunday that fellow teammate, Theresa Marie Green put on & Emma, Leigh, & Sherri placed) before setting out on our 3 x 1.5 mile w/ 60 seconds easy in between ‘assignment’.  My feet & hands quickly warmed up as I caught up with the team & others I knew at the track & soon the thought of staying home just seemed absurd (& I had no desire for Oreos).  Before I’d left the house I’d thought, “Well, go run & even if you don’t run your best tonight you’d at least have shown up.”  That thought was absurd, too!  I don’t want to ‘just show up’.  I want to respect the privilege I’ve been given by CVE/lululemon to be a part of this team & give my best.  Hmmm, another life lesson!  Note to self … Each day is a new day to either ‘just show up’ or respect the privilege of having another day.  Running causes epiphanies so I think I’ll keep doing it.

 

We weren’t given a specific time like we have in previous workouts which forced us to trust in our training & be in sync with ourselves.  Although I did glance at my watch along the way, I really did try to focus on how it felt while knocking down the thoughts about feeling discomfort.  I kept telling myself that the discomfort is temporary &, as long as it isn’t actual pain, I can work through it & I will only get better.  I ran each 1.5 mile set faster than the previous one & I kept them consistent.  This is another thing the coaches are looking for and that will translate to a successful run on race day.  Could I have run faster?  Probably so.  Did I want to run faster?  Yes, always.  But like our coaches say, “It’s better to ‘fail’ at practice than on race day.”  By no means do I think my times were ‘failure’, but I know I could’ve run faster & much of it is the struggle I still have with feeling discomfort.  I’m continually working on this so that on November 16th, I’ll be more prepared to run with temporary discomfort that results in forever-lasting achievement.  Hmmm, another life lesson.  

 

All in all, this team experience has been a great source of motivation & inspiration. I’m very appreciative of the privilege to be part of it … plus, our running dates have saved me from eating more Oreos than I’d like to count : )

 

Thanks for reading & stay tuned for what’s in store over the next four weeks!