Yesterday was so rough that I had to wait until today to do my blog post. I did a 12-mile run yesterday. Actually, I sort of did a 12-mile run yesterday. Yesterday morning it was rainy and cold. So I intentionally post-poned my run until the afternoon. I spent my morning in the cold and rain working cows. Something I would much rather do than run in the cold and rain, or anytime really. I planned a "quick" stop at Wal-Mart before I would start my run. Ha! Ha...Ha...ha! Nothing "quick" about it dears. Ughhh, when will I learn.
I finally started my run around 4:30. The way down to the six-mile mile marker went pretty well. Other than the first half mile when my feet were *Killing* me. Like, serious, major pain. Luckily, I was smart enough to stop and loosen my laces. And wa-la. No more serious major pain in the feet. So up to six miles, I was just plugging along. Doing the thing. Observing the Beautiful fall colors and Beautiful landscapes of farmland and pastures.
At the six-mile turnaround, I did just that (brilliant, I know). I hit a pretty big hill where a bridge used to be, but was destroyed by the tornado this summer. I ran about halfway up the hill and then walked. But I felt okay. Shortly thereafter, it hit me. The mental block. My heart just wasn't in it, I thought. And for the remainder of my run, I struggled. When I got to mile 8, I stopped and walked for a bit. I decided that I wasn't going to be too hard on myself and if I walked some, so be it. However, for the next 4 miles, I struggled so bad. Long about mile 9, while walking AgaIn, I started to forget the whole "not be so hard on myself" attitude. It started to really bother me that I was having to walk so much because I couldn't mentally get through it. I think physically, I could have ran the entire 12 miles. It would have hurt but I'm sure that I could have done it. After all, I've done it before. I just mentally could not get through this run. I started to sniffle. I started to tear up. I thought "run! you can't cry if you're running!"
And then there before me, about 20-yards head, out popped a precious black bear cub on the trail. I immediately stopped (walking). He/she immediately stopped, looked at me, pondered it's next move, and then darted down the hillside. Ahhhh.... God was encouraging me. He gave me something to get excited about, something to appreciate the fact that I was out there. He knew I needed a pick-me-up. God is so good. I was aware enough to realize that Momma Bear must be nearby as well, so I hummed a little tune loudly so I wouldn't startle her wherever she might me. Don't.Startle.Bears. Wilderness Rules #1-10.
I finished my run eventually. It took me two hours and twenty-six minutes. F.O.R.E.V.E.R. I walked on and off for the entire second half of my run. I was not pleased with myself or my running. It's mentally getting very hard. I have three weeks to go. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.....
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Coach me!