RIDE THAT STRUGGLE BUS INTO THE SUNSET

 



In true toddler form, cuts on his face and random goggles

                I turn off my alarm and roll over. I notice my husband has placed a cup of freshly brewed nespresso coffee next to my bed…what a guy. Another sleepless night with our 10-month-old, no end in sight in that regard. After the coffee brings some life into my legs I lace up my running shoes and head out the door. My legs feel like bricks, this particular day I find myself loosening up and by the tick of the first mile I am cruising a bit. I perform a 2-mile workout after my warm up consisting of several sprint intervals. It feels good and as I run that last half mile home I feel like there is a light shining on my running future. Refreshing after the past 10 months have felt more like a haphazard dumpster fire of workouts.

                I have recently felt encouraged by the running community and women’s athletics in general.  I can’t tell you how many times in my 20s I heard someone talking about when women peak and basically by 30 we’re all washed up. We are finding as time goes on women are fast at many ages and stages of life. Keria Damato is the perfect example. She is in her late 30s, has 2 children and is crushing the women’s distance running world right now. I thought of her this morning, wondering if she felt discouraged at any point in her return to run journey. I am guessing she just put in the work and the time, the consistency and with that came her success. I don’t believe there is a complicated equation with anything in life but the simplicity that if you put in the work, WITH TIME, the success will follow.

"Coming out of college, I tried running for a little bit & got injured. Then I gave up on myself. I let go of that dream & I forgave myself for not hitting those dreams. Then, I gave myself permission to try again & to dream of that again.” – @KeiraDAmato

                So many people I have encountered throughout my adult life have known me as the runner and some years a pretty fast runner. 🐆 Some days I feel down, like I will never get back there. WONDERING IS THIS THE BODY I HAVE TO LIVE IN FOREVER. Even that I might have wasted some of those prime injury free years focusing on other less productive things. I think its human nature to think about the past. Big picture though, we cannot let the past consume us.

Recently returned to San Antonio for a fantastic week of training


                Bottom line, we all go through things in life that make us question or identity, our past, the what if’s and the where will I be in X years. Having those thoughts is human nature. Acknowledging those feelings is ok but allowing them to create a space for negativity in your life is not. For me, and I encourage all of you to do this as well, we must focus on what we can do today.

Today, I managed to get out of bed despite the lack of sleep I have undergone for lord knows how many months now. I was blessed with the ability to not only physically run but also to live in a location that I can step out my door and safely run. I never want to forget or take for granted those blessings. Today I had a good run, my legs felt like pre-baby pre-injury legs. I am going to take those positive feels and ride them into the sunset.

“I would encourage her to see what she is doing as leading by example to her children—taking on challenges, being disciplined, taking good care of her body, not shying away from pain and discomfort—these are things we hope to instill in our kids, but when they actually see it in our lives, it is so much more powerful.” Sara Hall

                A little funny side note. Jason and I have been struggling to get up in the morning. The sleep deprivation and no end in sight is a real energy suck. David Goggins popped up in my IG feed this morning. His post was about struggling to getting up in the morning. Goggins said “I did a little research on why I couldn’t get up in the morning and I realized I was just being a bitch”. (Excuse the profanities but that is funny) We all have our excuses but I guess a person has to really evaluate their goals and press on despite uncontrollable circumstances.

                No matter what your going through, what changes you might have recently encountered or may be facing, endeavors you are on, focus on today and if today sucks you can always start out again tomorrow. Stay positive and ride the happy train into the sunset each and every day. Also, as Goggins would say, “Stay Hard”.


two of my favorite ladies
also a shout out to the month countdown to Abby's wedding!


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