A few months ago when I was all in my “I’m totally going to get in shape, girl” mood I signed up to do the Baltimore Running Festival 5k. I had a few months to prepare and had run a bunch of 5k’s before pregnancy, so I figured it was no big deal. Well, fast forward a few months and I’ve pretty much done NOTHING to get myself back in shape. Unless you count the fact that I haven’t had a chance to go to the store to restock my super-sized marshmallows.
That doesn’t count? Crap.
When I signed up for the race, my friend Lindsay signed up to run it with me. Which I thought would be really great for us both to have an incentive to start/keep running to prepare. Unfortunately, she had to start wearing one of those super sassy boot things on her ankle/foot due to an old injury and wasn’t going to be able to run after all. Add that to the fact that I hadn’t arranged for a babysitter (my parents will be out of town and my husband will be working) and I figured that I’d just skip the event.
So that brings us to this week. I saw Lindsay yesterday and she has decided to run the race after all. She doesn’t have to wear the boot anymore and she’s in pretty great shape from a combo of working out and that awesome glow/weight loss that comes with being in a new relationship. Yes, I’m jealous – not of the new love (I’m incredibly happy with my man thankyouverymuch) but of the effortless loss of weight! Still, I had no babysitter so I figured I’d pass on the race.
Then, this morning I was listening to a local morning radio show and they were talking about the Baltimore Running Festival. One of their callers would be running his 49th marathon this year and he doesn’t even train.
What?! He doesn’t train and can just go out there and run 26 miles???
Which got me to thinking – when I was “training” I pretty much just got my butt out there and ran between 1 – 4 miles without doing much preparation. I would just start and go with whatever felt good at the moment. Now, let me be clear… I AM NOT FAST! I just go at my own speed and I’m totally okay with that.
When I decided to start running again over the summer, I literally went out with my baby in the jogging stroller and ran a mile. A couple days later I ran two miles. And then I got busy/lazy and haven’t run again since then. That was in June and despite my wishing that I would turn into someone who liked exercising, I haven’t really done much since then.
Every week I start out telling myself that I’m going to use the elliptical machine, eat healthy, go for a walk/run, etc. And every week something comes up – last week it was the cold/croup combo that hit Jack (and the rest of us). Before that it was a 6 day workweek where I didn’t get home until 9pm three of the nights. See, always an excuse.
This morning when I heard that guy say how he just got out there and did it, it flipped a switch in my brain. I always say that things are mind over matter and if you tell yourself you can do something, you CAN do it. Well, I decided to shut my damn mouth and prove it.
My awesome brother has volunteered to hang out with Jack by the finish line and I’m running the race on Saturday. Yes, I decided Wednesday morning to run a 5k in less than three days. With no preparation at all.
But you know what; I believe I can do it. So I’m GOING to do it.
I mean, three miles isn’t that far, right? I doubt I’m going to get my best time ever, but I sure as heck won’t be last either. I even went online to make sure and last year dozens of people took over an hour to finish. My old times were closer to the 33 – 36 minute mark, so as long as I finish in less than 40 minutes or so I’ll be a happy girl.
I’m going to load a super fun running mix on my ipod, dress in my most comfortable running clothes, braid my hair so it’s out of my face… and run my butt off.
I’m going to prove to myself that I can do this. And if I can do this, I can put my mind to it and make some other positive changes in my life.
Please say a little prayer for me or cross your fingers or something, because I’m going to need all the support I can get!
Kick some ass, Joules! You can totally do this!
YOU CAN DO IT!!!! It’s only 3 miles!!! DO THE CRAP OUT OF IT! Then, like i used to do, go straight to Dunkin Donuts for the bacon-turkey-cheddar flatbread melt, and a donut. GLORIOUS. I can’t wait to hear about it!!!