Alice is a Runner!

This was an awesome run.  I have been having a hard time getting through my second mile lately.  I don't know if I have mentally shut down or if I actually am not to the point that I could run two miles.  Today, it was raining and I LOVE to run in the rain.  I guess I am weird that way, but I love it!  So, instead of riding my boring exercise bike like I had planned, I got the running shoes on and a windbreaker and headed out.  I decided that I wouldn't concentrate so much on distance.  I wanted to just run to my work and back.  I think that did the trick because I really didn't know how long it was to my work.  I actually thought it was only a mile but when I drove back to see, it was 1.5.  Therefore, I actually ran three miles.  Okay, so mid way I had to stretch because my legs were killing me(I lifted weights yesterday via P90X).  I also did a few stops along the way back but I was proud that I never walked more than a half a block.  GO me.  I can't believe that my next 5k is actually a little over a week away.  I am not quite prepared for it, but I will give it a go anyway.   

Alice loves spring.  Just thought you all should know.  The two or three readers of this running blog.  I ran a 5k route again today and it was awesome.  Lately, I have been down on myself because I can only run about a mile and then I just want to be done.  I have been talking a lot about this problem with a lot of my friends and one friend in particular helped me get back on the positive side.  She basically said that about four months ago, I had never even ran a mile just to run it.  So, even just doing that is an accomplishment.  She also mentioned how I hated to run a minute and a half when I started and now I am running 13 minutes without wanting(too much) to stop and then I am turning around and running some more.  I guess sometimes we get caught up with where we want to be and forget to look back and be proud of where we have come from.  

A few days ago, I was ready to not run anymore and quite but now I am back in the place that I am a runner and it is enjoyable.  I like that.  I even was smiling while listening to Taylor Swift's "Our Song."  It just made me happy for some reason.  I also loved being in the warmer weather and to see all of the blossoms on the trees and the flowers that have also bloomed.  I am a sucker for spring.  That second mile was still hard but I did three.  So what if I had to walk here and there?  This is a journey, not just a race(although those races are pretty fun and I think I may be coming addicted to them!).  

I also like the advice that I got from another friend earlier this week when I asked her "So, how do you do it?  How do you get past that "wall"?"  Her simple answer of: "You just keep going"  seemed a little crazy at first but while I am out there putting foot to pavement, I have come to realize that sometimes simple is the most profound! :) 

Have I mentioned that I love the spring?  Well, running today in the sun, warmth and beauty of spring blossoms again made my soul happy.  

So, do you think when I run my 5k this Saturday, I can stop midway and take a ten minute break? (with the clock also stopping?)  That seemed to do the trick for me getting past "the wall" today.  I ran to my work and then had to pick something up to finish my grades and chatted with a co-worker for about ten minutes.  It was then very easy to run back to my house.  I only stopped once(twice if you count the stop light).  That was quite a feat.  Usually, I am stopping three or four times before that last half.  Weird that stopping for a few minutes made the running easier.  Hmmm.  

I was distracted about thoughts of one of my students who totally blew his chances of graduating this past week.  I guess having a lot on your mind can also help the running be easier.  That voice saying just keep going helped a bit too.

My knee hurts and I think this is because I am running more than I have  been.  Maybe I will run a bit less for my second run this week.  I hope that doesn't effect the 5k on Saturday.

 This is a random post.  I am sometimes random.  It was hard getting running today.  I think this is because of the amazing amount of horrible for me food I ate last night.  But, man oh man, was that ice cream with cookies and syrup so very yummy and totally worth it! I am learning about sometimes just having to indulge in order to stick with my program!

Today was an amazing run.  I ran the whole three miles. I took it really slow and I totally did it. I made the impossible(even if just in my head) become possible.  I went a different route. I have found that this is a key to me being sucessful. I get bored easily, I guess. Maybe it is because when I know a route, I know how much longer I have to go. My body/mind must like not knowing. I guess I have always loved surprises!

I ran along the river trail near the lake and it was so nice. I consider myself a farm girl even thouh I grew up in the city. I was lucky enough to have a grandfather who was a farmer though and I loved hanging on his farm when I was younger. Maybe it is the Wisconsin in me but I LOVE cows. So, seeing lots of cows in the fields along the trail made me happy. Good thing it was cold and cloudy so there were no people to find me weird for talking to the cows as I ran past them. I also enjoyed the muskrat and geese that also crossed my path.  The animals helped distract me!

I think I have to just get real pensive in order to have good runs. Today the thoughts of a certain frustrating past relationship kept me distracted. Silly boys!!! I was listening to Kelly Clarkson which brought on those memories and which also made the running easier. I sang along(again glad there was no one around) to the birds.

The song "Impossible," by Kelly Clarkson was playing as I was finishing and it made me emotional. These words really hit me: "It's impossible to you, not impossible to me, not impossible for me...breaking down the walls to the impossible" I totally admit that I totally wept as I finished my run. I was just so dang proud of myself for actually running the whole 5k worth. I do not care if I run a very slow 5k...I am running it!!!!! The impossible just became possible!!!  Going slow helped so I am going to concentrate on controlling speed so I can run further! This journey is so exciting!  So excited for the race on Saturday!