The never ending finish line

I started this blog because I wanted to blog about running my first marathon.  With this, I failed. I didn’t fail at running, I failed at writing about it and my journey but I guess I really needed to let my training sink in and I have done an immense amount of self-evaluation.  I also really was afraid that I might not do the 26.2 on 10/09/2011; however, that date is tomorrow and an hour ago I picked up my packet.  So, so far, I’m totally participating.  

I have (along with many people I have graduated with) been having a hard time finding a job ANYWHERE over the past almost year and a half.  I let this really affect me significantly the past year.  It touched every piece of me, including my running.  Sure I still worked out and did a ton of miles; however, I really didn’t feel I was doing enough and so I didn’t want to share my journey.  Now, tomorrow in race day and I look back and sort of wish I would have shared the pain, and the accomplishment of running and job hunting.  BUT - I’m not going to do that.  Too much of my time is spent with what ifs and I should have done things differently.  I’m not doing that anymore, I’m owning my choices and living with them.  If the outcome is not what I want it to be, I can change that by making different choices. 

Now back to the running.  

I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH from this experience so far… 

Over the course of this training with Nike+ (pretty great!! a have a watch and my ipod) and my dear dear friends, I have had sore knees, sore quads, sore calves and blisters & bruises under toenails (I know gross, but nothing a coat of seasonable black nail polish won’t cover!  You can’t tell at all!!).

I have learned running shoes, are crazy important replace.  As my LunarGlide2’s hit 500 miles, my knees were totally telling me to get something new.  

I have learned that there are AMAZING people at Fleet Feet who can tell you how you run and what shoes to wear.  They showed me Nike’s, Saucony’s, & my new Marathon Brooks shoes… They know everything there…

I have learned that cotton socks stink when you are running a lot and your feet sweat (I suggest Nike’s dri-fit’s I have them in black and white, and they are AMAZING!).

I have learned a ton about wardrobe!!  I have tried different fabrics, learned that cotton is the worst thing to work out in when you sweat a ton (thanks to some great classes at Core Power Yoga/Bikram Yoga Oak Park) because it weighs you down and you fidget, it totally takes away from your practice and your pace.  

I have learned that lululemon althletica is also an amazing store that yogis and runners must visit, if only to experience the amazing people with great stories, who know their clothes and help you find your perfect outfits… So you look and feel great for those long yoga sessions and long runs in all seasons… 

I have learned that the body can do AMAZING THINGS and I have also learned how important my yoga practice is to keeping my joints happy and my body flexible.  

Most of all, I learned that when you meet goals, you experience this sort of peace.  Sure, I don’t have my dream job (yet!) but tomorrow I’ll be completing something only 1% of the population does, a marathon…  So I’m sickly grateful for that.

Namaste! 

So the past two days have been weird.  I must be in a slump of some sort, seriously.  It is hard to stay up at night, hard to wake up in the morning and hard to get through everything in the day.

Well I’d like to switchup my mentality today.  So I’m starting off with a blog, telling myself what I’m grateful for.  I want to do this a few times a week.  I want a BIG thing, a medium thing and a mini thing to be grateful for.  I’d love for some feedback, as in you tell me your 3Gs.

1. My body - It really goes hard, and doesn’t fail me.  I have been blessed to be healthy.
2. My Oso (my puppy, 1 year old German Shepard) - Although he is a HUGE part of my life, He is my Medium today because he is just an unconditional lover.  Gosh, I’m so lucky to have him.  
3. My morning cup of coffee - AMAZING.  A lil caffeine to get my day started.  <3.

Another thing I want to add to my morning routine is 5 minutes of selfish time.  To meditate, read a book and just focus on me.  I may start waking up a half hour more to focus a bit more on this and add 10 minutes of yoga to it. We often do not allow ourselves this five minutes, we may think we do but just try it… See how you feel.

Ok so ready set - be positive!