The mommy is nestled all comfy on the couch, while dreams have come true and silence surrounds!
Woo hoo! I have succeeded....both boys, asleep, at the same time...what a wonderful day!
Our week has been great and this day has been wonderful. If you really know me, you know that I am not a morning person. I used to be when I was a young, young child and my father would take me to breakfast with him....oh, how I loved a good breakfast....but, that didn't last long and I have not been a morning person in a long, long time. I spent a few years of my life clocking in before 7....yes, 7 in the morning...the horror! I remember thinking the only people crazy enough to be up at that time of day were construction workers, hospital employees, teachers and school bus drivers. I still think that...I'm just happy that this nurse found her way to a 9 - 5 job instead of a 7 -7....lucky me!
This morning, I had to take a 7:30 appointment for a haircut - it was all she had. Ugh. I made it to my haircut, went to the grocery store, ran to Walmart for a few things, came home, ran 2 miles, showered, headed out to see a friend and meet her newest baby...her 3rd baby girl!...had a lunch date with Chad, picked the kids up, made two stops on the way home and now they are napping (except for Owen who is now SCREAMING for me.....that will stop, I hope!). Feels great to get so much done in half a day!
I digress....
The reason I am excited to share my thoughts today has to do with setting personal goals, making a plan to accomplish those personal goals and the follow through...actually crossing that goal off of the "to-do" list with a big, fat, bold check mark!
Way back in July, I shared with you in this entry, that I had plans to run a half marathon and had started training. That half marathon is less than 48 hours away. I have trained. I am ready. I am excited. I might be a little nervous too! I have my UNC running shorts ready to go!
Back in the spring, I was active and had been seeing a personal trainer. When it came to running, I hated it. I have never, ever enjoyed running. Six months ago, if you had asked me to run 1 mile, I would not have been able to do so. Physically, I probably could have managed the task but mentally, I would have stopped. My runs used to start out pretty good and after about 5 minutes I would stop. I would continue the walk/run...walking more than running...for the duration of my workout. I could have run 20 minutes or so but that would have had lots of walking mixed in between each short run.
In my half marathon training, I have a few moments that really stand out in my head as great accomplishments...times I just felt excited with what I had done.
About 2 months ago now, I set out to do my longest run...at that time, it was 5 miles. I went out to do it alone and came back home after finishing. I had run for 55 minutes straight - with no pause for walking. 55 minutes! I marched right up to Chad to show him my stop watch. I was so proud. I would have never believed that I could have run for 55 minutes but I did and it felt GREAT!
The milestones kept getting longer and I kept passing right by. I had these same thoughts and I set out to run 8, 9 and eventually 10 miles. These longer distances I completed with my two friends, Anne and Emily, who will be joining me for the half on Saturday. I can say that I probably would have stopped without them by my side....but, I didn't. I kept running. Once you can honestly say that you have run 8 miles...9 miles...10 miles.....I'll be honest, it feels pretty darn good!
This past week, the training plan says to take it easy - this included a 6 mile run (with hills in Raleigh) on Saturday, a 3 mile run on Monday and an almost 2 mile run today.
The hilarious or amazing part of each of these runs is that I am no longer the person I used to be.
On Saturday, we were in Raleigh to attend the UNC game. The game started at 12:30 and we were planning to tailgate before the game. My old self, would have NEVER even considered running while out of town and before getting ready to go to a game. My new self headed out the door at 7:30, laced up my running shoes, turned my music up loud and just ran....up hills, out of breath, dying...but I did it.
On Monday, I set out for my 3 mile run and it started raining...pouring really....my old self would have never considered running in the rain. The new me just kept on going and came home dripping wet. Yes, I was that girl that you look at wonder why in the world is she/he running in the rain....well, I had to...it was part of the plan...but, if I hadn't been worried about my iPod getting wet, I may have kept on going....there is just something soothing about running in the rain!
Today, I only had to run 1 - 2 miles. Like I said previously, my old self wouldn't have been able to run that long without a break. Today, it was almost a joke that I only had to run for 20 minutes.
I don't like to brag...and, really, when it comes to anything physical, I don't have much room to brag. Yes, I was a great cheerleader and I enjoyed being a cheerleader but that clearly does not make me an athlete. I was a bad basketball player, a scared softball player, a terrible tennis player, and a mediocre-at-best track star. I despise volleyball, especially in sand or water. I enjoy watching golf and wish I could play but I get laughed at when I bring that up. So, I have learned that the one thing I can do....alone....is run. I have moved on from those friends of mine who used to make fun of my throw or my swing or my shot...oh wait, no, that's my husband and my 4 year old who do that...nevermind. I have realized that I will never escape being made fun of, in the most loving way possible, for my attempts to play sports so I have found something that I can do....I will lace up my shoes and I will run. I have already accomplished so much in my own eyes and when I cross that finish line on Saturday I will have something that nobody can take away. I won't be the fastest person running that half marathon and I may have to walk for a few minutes along the way but, there is no doubt about it, I will accomplish my goal and I will cross that off my to-do list with the biggest, boldest line ever. I will stick a 13.1 sticker on my car and I will be proud!
The biggest point I want to make....to all 10 of my faithful followers...is that there is no goal that you can't accomplish. Yes, some of us are limited physically or otherwise, but within reason, this is proof to me that you can truly accomplish anything that you set out to do! Have a goal, make a plan and cross it off your list!
"I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me"
Philippians 4:13
No comments:
Post a Comment