Do you remember that t-shirt brand that was popular in the mid 90's "No Fear". Each shirt had a different sports themed slogan about winning and playing with NO FEAR. Well, the company hit the height of its popularity when I was in middle school and I LOVED it. I had several different shirts, but my absolute favorite (my Dad can vouch for this) was the one that simply said:
SECOND PLACE IS THE FIRST LOSER.
NO FEAR!
This pretty much sums up how I feel about all competition. Seriously. It doesn't matter whether it is soccer, or baseball or tic tac toe...I want to win. So keeping that little tidbit of personal information in mind, let me tell you a little story..............
Once upon a time, in a land far far away from anything remotely resembling civilization, there lived a girl. This girl was a good, nice girl. She loved her husband and followed him to this place, she loved her children beyond measure, she even shared the bed with her dogs.
One day, this girl got the hair-brained idea to train and run further than she had ever dreamed of. This girl liked the challenge. So as soon as the doctors gave her clearance (she had just given birth and had suffered some medical issues post partum), she began her journey. She ran. And ran. And ran.
The weather began getting cooler. The holidays began creeping up. As Thanksgiving approached some of this girl's friends suggested they all participate in the local Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving morning. She agreed.
The morning of the "Trot" arrived and the girl logged on to the Internet to check the weather.
3 degrees.
That is what the computer told her. It was 3 degrees, and that didn't include the wind chill which was well below zero. Immediately, the girl wanted to turn around and go back to bed...but she didn't. No, she dutifully put on all the warm clothes she could find and went to the race.
It was miserably cold. The race didn't exactly start on time (not that that mattered too much) and by the time it did the poor girl's feet were frozen. They felt like clubs crudely stapled to her ankles.
All of the girl's grandiose ideas of finishing under the 30 minute mark froze along with the snot on her face. She kept moving. People passed her. Her friends were so far ahead, she couldn't even see them. Suddenly it occurred to this poor, frozen, nice girl to look behind her.
Gulp. One person. One. Just one rather portly person trudged behind our wayward heroin. She tried desperately to pick up the pace. Her body barely responded to the plea for speed. Thankfully the finish line came into view.
35:31. Second to LAST. 20 or so seconds ahead of the jolly jogger bringing up the rear.
Relief, frustration, and a small measure of shame washed over her. Bleck. Not the way she had envisioned this little event. The girl went home. Disappointed and...just disappointed. She thawed out, took a shower, and blogged about it.
The only solace she could muster was...well, technically, it could have been worse. I could have been dead last.
The next local race is on December 21. A "Jingle Bells" run. The girl went and hung the flyer on the fridge and vowed to work harder and faster. Our heroin may never win, but she sure as heck isn't coming in last or second to last EVER AGAIN.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
find a way/shout out
One of my favorite quotes is, "If you really want it, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse." (I have no idea who to attribute this to, if you happen to know, please leave me a comment)
The weather here on the good ol' Rez has been less than ideal. That, coupled with the fact I had to go in to the doctor Friday and get an antibiotic for a sinus infection and have my allergy medicine adjusted, has meant that running outside in freezing rain and sustained winds over 15mph isn't really a bright idea.
Thankfully I have a very generous neighbor across the street, who just HAPPENS to have been a personal trainer in another life and owns a veritable home gym, treadmill included. So yesterday when going out doors for my long run wasn't an option because we were under a winter storm warning I hit the treadmill instead.
For 8 miles.
I am so thankful to have found a way to get the miles in. I had originally decided to ride my bike trainer and at least get in a hard cardio session when I remembered her offer to let me use the treadmill anytime. So a couple of texts and a hour later I was bouncing along as I watched some TV.
Torture. That is what running 8 miles on a treadmill is tantamount to. Torture. The TV helped, but I cannot help but STARE at the little red numbers on the distance read-out that are moving WAY too slow. I tried covering it with my towel, but the towel kept slipping off and I twice had to do a pseudo-ninja leap off to one side as the towel hit the belt and went zipping by.
Wouldn't that have been spectacular? To find myself splattered against my neighbors wall in all my sweaty glory after shooting off the back of a treadmill? Awesome visual, I know. Thankfully I avoided said embarrassment this time.
Anyway, 92 long minutes later (beat last week's 8 miler by 1 minute!) I had 8 miles behind me and was a sweaty mess dying to get outside into the freezing temps to cool off. I had forgotten what it is like to sweat like that since it has pretty much been cool/cold since I started on this journey. It felt good.
So let me encourage you for a minute, if I may. Whatever you are working towards, whatever goal you have set for yourself, FIND A WAY. If it means being a little creative or asking others for help. Do it. It is worth it. I promise. When you come out the other side knowing you found a way and didn't make any excuses you can claim a victory, even if it is a small one.
Speaking of VICTORIES and finding a way, not an excuse, I need to congratulate one of my dearest friends HEATHER! She ran her very first half marathon yesterday and ROCKED it!! (I will post her time after I check with her and make sure that is alright.) I am so stinkin' proud and happy for her. If you are keeping track, Heather is the friend who I ran my first 5K with a couple of years back. She had wanted to run with us in Phoenix, but because of her husband's new and exciting work adventure, it wasn't going to work out. So, she kicked butt and got ready EARLY and ran the Route 66 Half in Tulsa this past weekend! WAY TO GO HEATHER!! (And Heather, May 1, 2011 OKC Memorial Half...you and me girlfriend!)
No excuses people. Not if you REALLY want it. Happy (frigid) Running.
The weather here on the good ol' Rez has been less than ideal. That, coupled with the fact I had to go in to the doctor Friday and get an antibiotic for a sinus infection and have my allergy medicine adjusted, has meant that running outside in freezing rain and sustained winds over 15mph isn't really a bright idea.
Thankfully I have a very generous neighbor across the street, who just HAPPENS to have been a personal trainer in another life and owns a veritable home gym, treadmill included. So yesterday when going out doors for my long run wasn't an option because we were under a winter storm warning I hit the treadmill instead.
For 8 miles.
I am so thankful to have found a way to get the miles in. I had originally decided to ride my bike trainer and at least get in a hard cardio session when I remembered her offer to let me use the treadmill anytime. So a couple of texts and a hour later I was bouncing along as I watched some TV.
Torture. That is what running 8 miles on a treadmill is tantamount to. Torture. The TV helped, but I cannot help but STARE at the little red numbers on the distance read-out that are moving WAY too slow. I tried covering it with my towel, but the towel kept slipping off and I twice had to do a pseudo-ninja leap off to one side as the towel hit the belt and went zipping by.
Wouldn't that have been spectacular? To find myself splattered against my neighbors wall in all my sweaty glory after shooting off the back of a treadmill? Awesome visual, I know. Thankfully I avoided said embarrassment this time.
Anyway, 92 long minutes later (beat last week's 8 miler by 1 minute!) I had 8 miles behind me and was a sweaty mess dying to get outside into the freezing temps to cool off. I had forgotten what it is like to sweat like that since it has pretty much been cool/cold since I started on this journey. It felt good.
So let me encourage you for a minute, if I may. Whatever you are working towards, whatever goal you have set for yourself, FIND A WAY. If it means being a little creative or asking others for help. Do it. It is worth it. I promise. When you come out the other side knowing you found a way and didn't make any excuses you can claim a victory, even if it is a small one.
Speaking of VICTORIES and finding a way, not an excuse, I need to congratulate one of my dearest friends HEATHER! She ran her very first half marathon yesterday and ROCKED it!! (I will post her time after I check with her and make sure that is alright.) I am so stinkin' proud and happy for her. If you are keeping track, Heather is the friend who I ran my first 5K with a couple of years back. She had wanted to run with us in Phoenix, but because of her husband's new and exciting work adventure, it wasn't going to work out. So, she kicked butt and got ready EARLY and ran the Route 66 Half in Tulsa this past weekend! WAY TO GO HEATHER!! (And Heather, May 1, 2011 OKC Memorial Half...you and me girlfriend!)
No excuses people. Not if you REALLY want it. Happy (frigid) Running.
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