Running Wogging & the Glass Half Full

Today I ran  It felt good Lately I've felt broken In body In spirit It's not healthy To let things pile up Like missed runs Last week my parents came for a visit They are determined to run a 5k this year Their excitement to get a run in every day  Reminded me of my own, when running was new I need more of that So today I ran In the early The dark The peace and quiet  The 'me time' of day I talked to myself The peptalk kind of conversation that is more coach than cheerleader Lots of stuff to work on But work is good Gives purpose I picked up the pace a bit and ran an extra mile 

Saturday, on a whim- my DH signed Riley up for football-  That was Saturday Monday was conditioning Time for mom's taxi Boy deposited amidst other sweaty kiddos It was time for me to get my run in I chose to run a few miles in Kiwanis park It's gorgeous And the trees keep the sun off me I love this park  Reminds me of when I first started running And it's half mile path made me faint with exhaustion-   Today I enjoyed it Round and round I went Til I tired of its beauty Finished my mileage weaving through   the neighborhood Then made my way back to the football field Riley was at work  Running hills- I was in awe of my son His tenacity His will to do the work and well I could learn a lot from him

Saturday July 20th, Gorgeous day  Boys were gearing up to go to our local cars show I wanted to get in a few miles  Decided this would be a photo run A photo run is where you run specifically looking to snap a photo or two It takes the edge off running simply for running's sake- and makes it creative And I need to get creative You see I have yet to make peace with this new running location We've been here a year now, at the new house-  I love it, love the neighborhood  Love the scenery  But have had a hard time running it It's up 'foothills'  And just as it sounds Hills on every corner This is a good thing But I've only found 2 routes  One 2.5 miles The other a 5+ miler I've been a bit intimidated  A little down That's not the norm for me This self proclaimed 'glass half-full girl' is not amused  The other day I saw this  And on the spot made it my mantra ...

It's a big sky kind of day, and I'm glad  Glad to feel so small There are times when  you feel like you can conquer the world  That your opinion is the only one that matters  The sheer strength of your tenacity pulling you through life –  And then there's that sky  That sky that tells you something different I woke up today a little late, but it was okay  Time spent with family and friends that make you stay up late from laughing  Talking together  Make you kind to yourself when the alarm sounds Laced up and out the door to get some miles in before the day began And then there was that sky- The sky that makes you realize you're not alone  You're not as big  Important Indispensable as you thought you were It's awe-inspiring You'd think that realizing how infinitesimal the world is compared to the rest of creation –  You'd be discouraged But no - None of that here See,...

So– today I ate a Hershey bar  And dreamed of being a master seamstress while rummaging t hrough the remnant bin at Walmart  Instead of going for a run I know, I know, I hear ya- That sounds silly  especially now- when you put it on paper  Saw a guy out running when I headed home from said Walmart  Felt a little guilty as he smiled and waved when I drove by- He grinned almost as if to say  'I got my run in, how about you?' Put the groceries away  Head back out to pick the kids up from VBS  Only to see the same guy  Really, really- the same guy- Still running it  Grinning like a crazed happy thing- Must have been his long run- I tell myself- on account of that grin- Those endorphins kicking in overtime for sure on this one... Made me jealous The mornings here are perfect now,  It's what we call monsoon season here in New Mexico –  Although 'monsoon' in New Mexico means so...

Alarm went off at 3am Snoozed til 4 Out the door and hitting pavement by 4:30am I think i should have just set my alarm for 4:15 and taken the extra beauty rest instead of trying to be an early-morning rockstar Heavens knows i'm not rock star material-  What with my running skirt and all- But I  did a manage a little nearly 4mile run/walk this morning. First half run Second half walk Why the wAlk? I got caught up in day planning and problem solving and covering up my teeth when cars drove past- that it slowed me down Do you cover your teeth and suction your lips tight around them when cars pass you on the road while you run?  You should If a kicked up peice of gravel can crack a windshield - who knows what it could do to your teeth Maybe it's a pride thing with me and my teeth Someone complimented me on them once-  Never mind it was my dentist- I've been rather fond of my teeth ever since Some of you might as well cover your eyes Or your nose Or your chin If you thin...

Son's baseball team made it to regionals Traveling is in order Santa Fe It's a chance to get away We pack up Drive Arrive Play Wander old town Architecture offers plenty Instagram photo ops  I wonder wether my kids realize the history of it all Sun Ball games  And an early morning run or two One on my own, where I slept in and had to cut the mileage short for sake of time One with another baseball mom about to run her first 5k It feels adventurous running on vacation Empowering  Even though the route is running around the mall and SAMs club parking lots  With an impromptu detour on a Frisbee-golf nature trail I need new shoes I need more miles I need more speed But that can wait It's time to cheer  Sight see  And Family time  And what a time to be had Boys played well Good sports under pressure  Man, do we have good...

This week something amazing happened I got a late night text from NMrunnergirl Asking if I still ran early morning runs "Ummmm, no"--- I reply "But I've been setting my alarm 4am-ish for the past month,  In hopes that I will..."  She's game I'm game Game on! I can't tell you how fun it is to run with friends--- Ok- I'll admit, I was and am and can be a running snob- who likes to run by themselves- Mostly because I am a slow, and I let that insecurity get in the way  I'd forgotten how nice it is to be up before everyone else To see the sunrise To hear the birds telling you it's going to be a fabulous day To chat,  Solve problems Share stories of how blessed we are to have great husbands Great families Fun kids And great friends that run

I had an epiphany while I was slugging it out on the road, doing my rendition of what I call running- You see, running has been hard as of late-- Don't get me wrong, I've had my share of drama to make running a necessity  Enough happiness to embrace the joy it brings enough 'everything' to make taking that leap out the door worth it But here it was staring me in the face I had no guts No drive So this is what apathy feels like I hate it I bought a running book Found my garmin stuffed in my junk drawer Pulled out the new pair of socks I'd been saving for such occasions Photocopied not just one- But three- yes, 3 running programs- Taped them dutifully to the inside of my cupboard door for motivation   And that's all I could muster   That, and a few 4 mile runs to appease the running karma I was sure to be tempting with all this lack of mojo Sigh I gave up my insane Durango Joes' iced caramel macchia...