I just got back from my first run this week. It was grueling!!! I took my little two year old, who behaved like a little patient angel-thank you, peanut! This morning’s run was a plug along run, but I did it. I had to push to keep moving and I think I made it on a little bit of energy and a whole lot of stubborn.
I didn’t blog last week. Last week was challenging for me-something about the gloomy weather and dark drizzly mornings wasn’t as appealing as a bright happy sunrise run. I ran, though, I got up in the dark, put on my shoes and ran the only run I could safely run in the dark-up and down River Rd. I did the exact same run two times last week and it was not the most enjoyable experience but it felt good to do anyway. I only did two runs, though. I let myself get bogged down and it discouraged me. I made poor choices last week that drained my energy. I don’t know if the discouragement caused the bad choices or vice versa, but I do know that I stayed up way later than was good for me just about every night last week and I got into the Halloween candy (yes, before Halloween) more than once or twice. So what it boils down to is I made it hard for myself to accomplish my goals because I didn’t take care of my body.
I struggle with things. I think we all do. I feel discouraged because I know I could and should do better, I feel overwhelmed by my list of “to do’s” and sometimes instead of just slow and steady I warp speed and fizzle-or crash. That is where I am at right now. I need to do some slow and steady while I get through this little challenge time for me. Be patient, run the course deliberately and don’t worry if you have to take a “scenic” route and it takes a little longer, just keep on plugging along.
All of this perspective hit me yesterday, in church. I was feeling crummy but had decided I needed to be where I needed to be (at church) and sitting there listening to the children singing I was reminded that every effort counts, every good choice pushes us along in the right direction and that when you feel like you’re dragging dead weight you dig in and keep pushing-DON’T GIVE UP!!!
So, the Pacific Northwest Marathon is starting a run/walk with your friend challenge. I would like to point out how timely and perfect this is to keep us plugging along. Plug along in the rain, in the cold, in the dark-take a friend to make it bearable, but keep moving. Just remember that however impossible the trail may seem, however long and arduous the journey may appear, just plug along-on the other side is a glorious view and the exhilarating power that comes from making the choice to keep on trying.
