Since my last post, I’ve received all kinds of encouragement which is really cool. I’m so very grateful. It’s a lovely reminder that I have people in my life rooting for me, and that feels amazing. Now, me? Goodness, gracious, since posting my goal, my self-doubt has just ramped up. I’ve had to speak truth to myself since last Tuesday.
Have you ever had to do that? Speak truth, or logic to yourself when you are being the biggest negative Nancy ever? I can be both my biggest cheerleader and encourager, as well as my biggest critic and naysayer. Obviously, not at the same time, but it’s rough.
So, last week when I posted my goal, it felt like a weight had shifted and sat on my shoulders. I thought to myself, “well now I’m accountable; why the heck did I do that?” but, I’m glad to say, that I’m chugging along on my little pursuit. Doubts and all.
Onto the progress! I’m up to 1.7 Miles, 3 times a week, and I’ve signed up for a 5K. I’m doing a little running plan on my phone where a kind girl speaks in my ear over my music and tells me great things like, “you can do it”, “keep going”, and my least favorite, “doesn’t it feel good” well no, no it actually doesn’t. I don’t know at what point of this adventure it will feel good, but for right now, it really does not.
The setbacks: This past weekend I went to do my usual grocery run. It’s quite the event as I have 4 stops: Sam’s Club, a local farmer’s market, Walmart, and Publix. I then got home, put everything away, and plopped onto my recliner. Some would say, “collapsed” but we don’t talk to those people, I’ll say “plopped” like a delicate sack of potatoes. Oh boy, my lower back and knees burned and ached, Grocery shopping, once again, kicked my butt, and then I thought to myself, “Self, how the heck am I going to run 13.1 miles when grocery shopping tuckers me out?” that’s a great question, self. The answer is, I don’t know, and then my thoughts drifted elsewhere as I took 2 Advil, and whispered, “you got this”.
I’m hoping that my slow turtle’s pace of training helps keep me getting stronger every week and building endurance. We’ll see I guess. I’m not panicking… yet.
Onto other parts of this adventure, if I really am going to stay on this journey for the next 330 days and potentially MILES of running, I’ll need to invest in a new headset. I currently use a pair of over the ear headphones, you know, like earmuffs. Oh, for the love of Pete, these things are slipping and sliding all over the place. I’ll start my warm-up, a brisk walk, and they are hanging tough, but by mile 1.5 of my run, they have fully extended, and are being held at the top of my head by the messy bun of hair that doesn’t allow them to completely fall off. Imagine, I’m already sweating, my knees are crying out for mercy, my calves are on fire, and these headphones are blaring into the side of my neck, “doesn’t this feel good”.
What a picture of athleticism I must be. Sweating, red faced, messy bun, earmuffs warming the sides of my neck, and me answering my little running app, “NO, BECKY, THIS DOESN’T FEEL GOOD!” … good times.