All went for a run tonight.
Although that started like a beginning to a bad joke, the only bad joke may be my mile time::
So remember how I said I'm preparing to run the IU Mini Marathon? I figured I should probably get on that since it's a half-marathon and I'm in no shape to run it yet.
I meant to do 5 miles tonight, because I figured if I could bump myself up one mile per week, I'll get to my 13.1 in time. I'm glad that I started out better than 5 miles because Bloomington has a lot of hills that I have to work to master.
In the devotional Pray Fit that I've mentioned in earlier posts, it encourages the reader/exerciser to do your exercises "to fail". This means you're doing pushups and you keep doing them until your arms will not push you back off the floor again. The next day you do the same exercise only you should do at least one more rep of it in less time. I decided I should use this principle in my run. So I ran my five miles and then kept going until my legs just wouldn't keep going. And tomorrow I plan to do at least 6 miles at a better time.
A lot of times when I'm doing something difficult, I mentally make deals with myself. Like, "okay, you're going to do 5 more minutes on this stationary bike but if 5 minutes is up before a commercial break, you have to keep going until the commercial break." Silly, I know, but usually if this happens and commercial break comes up, I go, "oh well now you've done 6.7 minutes, you may as well do 10..."
So I loaded my "On-the-Go" playlist with songs that I LOVE. You know, songs that when they're on the radio when you pull into your driveway you will finish them out before you turn off the car and go inside. (Is that just me?)
So I had things like::
Serenade No. 13 in G, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik", K 525 Andante - Mozart Modern
...and etc and etc.
When I had hit 4 miles, "I want you (She's so heavy)- The Beatles" came on and I pictured a darling retro, 50's-esque dress that I saw and loved when I was at the mall with my sister today everytime the song's sultury lyrics sang "I want you...I want you so bad" and then used "She's so heavy" as some negative reinforcement to keep on keeping on with my run.
As soon as that song ended I got off Abbey Road and the soulful rendition of "Let It Be" from Across the Universe played and brought me to a peaceful place. I started to talk to God until it was time for my body to stop and cool down and walk the rest of the way home. Earbuds in, iPod off.
One day, in a conversation about being wholly healthy, I told my pastor, Jeremy VanKley and his wife Stacey (who are two amazing people when it comes to spiritual leaders, motivational supporters, and just plain great friends) that a lot of times I run with absolutely no music but my iPod strapped to me and my earbuds in because I'm praying and I don't want anyone interrupting me.
"God my legs are aching!
Thank you for giving me working legs.
God my heart feels like it's going to burst!
Thank you for giving me a healthy heart.
God I'm sweating a ton!
Thank you for this beautiful night.
God, I feel like I'm going to puke
Thank you for providing me with food to eat."
I'm really not the most formal prayer. That's why I'm happy to not get singled out to pray in crowds very often. Me and the Big Guy are cool and he knows my heart, and that's what matters.
Tonight I learned::
If you're feeling bad for yourself
Or if you're giving yourself permission to quit
You are forgetting all that you're blessed with.
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