Wandering Through the Hills

Yuck.  That just sums up tonight's run.  Yuck.  I ran somewhere around 4 miles, give or take.  Took me 46 minutes.  I ran around Lebanon, which was lovely, except for the HILLS.  Up and down, Up and Down, up and Down.  Owwwie owie.  On the way back, my quads were Burning.  I was a bit disappointed that I had to stop and walk about 25-yards up one of the hills.  But to make up for it, I pushed through the last hill and didn't stop, which I was mentally preparing myself to do just that, walk the last hill.  I was certainly poking today.  There was no speed in my getup today. 

As I was running these glorious hills, I kept in mind the most important thing I learned during the full marathon I once ran.  It was in San Franciso, and the night before the race at the pasta dinner, a coach for the San Francisco Team In Training team told us, "Do not run over the hills.  Run THROUGH the hills."  Head down, eyes on your feet, run through the hills.  It does help! 

What else helps is keeping my mind off the fact that I'm running up hills.  I used to run short distances with a few wonderful folks and I would make one of them tell me stories as we ran up the hills to keep my mind of the fact that I was running up a hill.  So when I'm running alone, I just have to tell myself stories.  OR think about stuff.  Which I do.  Very random stuff.  And I can't stay focused on one thing.  It's almost like when I say my prayers sometimes and my mind just starts wandering.  FOCUS Jen, Focus.  I don't run with an ipod or anything, so my running is alllll me and my thoughts.  Scary sometimes.  Refreshing at other times.  Now, if I could learn to use my time running to Listen, like Pastor Cantrell said, That would be a good use of my time.  Exercising my muscles and my soul at the same time!  I think I always exercise my soul a little when running.  Time alone is always good for the soul whether you realize it or not.  I've learned this for certain.

I'm soooo looking forward to a nice swim tomorrow.  I will be so glad go relax my quads and knees for a day.  I need to start taking some pictures for y'all!  ...Not of me in a swim suit, however.