Here comes the hard part...

I've been lucky.

Somehow, magically, the weather gods and the running gods cooperated and I've had good weather each day I plan to do my long run. It hasn't always been sunny, but it's been dry.

But today--it is colder and rainy. It's even snowing up here at KVAL. Plus--I'm supposed to run 8 miles today.

So today is more about the mental challenge for me.

I've loaded some new songs onto my iPod and I'm reminding myself I'm only adding an extra 1.5 miles to my long run. That's not that much more. And I'm telling myself if I don't do this run--it will just mean more pain on May 4. That's a powerful motivator right there.

So wish me luck! I'll let you know how it goes.

UPDATE: I survived. I got rained on for the first two miles, but it cleared up. Some blue sky was even poking through the clouds for the last mile or so. Now that I think about it--the rain was kind of refreshing. I'm glad it wasn't raining the whole time, though. I wasn't the only one on the trail either--there were plenty of people walking, running and riding bikes in the rain. I guess I just need to tough it out like real Oregonians :)

Back in the saddle!

Well, here it is. My first blog entry, after weeks of procrastination, and mostly, weeks of me banging my head against the wall trying to decide: 5K or half marathon.

Last year, I ran the 5K and loved every minute of it. This year I want to challenge myself a bit more, but am scared I won’t make the half marathon goal. And being the competitive person I am, not meeting my goal will be a big let down. I keep longing for a 10K, a nice spot in the middle of this whole Eugene Marathon madness. But alas, it's not there, it won't be there tomorrow... or the next day... or the next. So I apologize for the delay in my blogging! But the lack of writing, comes from the inability to commit to the half or the 5K. So that's what I want to write about today.

When I was younger... I used to play competitive soccer. I even played on a women's semi-pro team in the Bay Area (California) before there was a short lived women's pro league. My oldest brother, one of my best friends, played soccer professionally, so on rare occasions, he would take me to any local field to train me. One day, when I was training for a try-out with one of the best teams in the area he said "Meghan, you are always going to have to train twice as much, twice as hard and twice as often than most people if you want to make the team." It was the truth, I was never as fast as the other girls my age, and truthfully bigger than most girls my age.

So I take that saying with me wherever I go. Which is why I think I always seem to exceed, then fail... exceed then fail at running. I train twice as hard, then I burn out and stop for a month or two, then my "self" competitiveness gets me and I start all over again. That's where I’m at now. Last month, I ran up to 6.1 miles, no problem. Then I just got bored of training and stopped, but with the Marathon looming, I know I have to work to do, and a decision to make. So now I'm trying to get back in the saddle. But this time, I'm telling myself I can do it.... and finish it.

Training Soundtrack

I am absolutely loving the nice weather we've been having. It definitely motivates me to get outside and run. I hate running on a treadmill, so I'm trying to take advantage of any chance I have to run outdoors.

Anyway, my reason for posting is music. I NEED good music to run to. The right song can help me pick up my pace or push me over a hill. I listen to all types of music while I run.

Here are a few of my favorite songs on my training soundtrack:

Sunday Bloody Sunday--U2 (the opening notes of this song alone are enough to get me moving faster)
Spirit in the Sky--Normen Greenbaum (this one is a staple on sports movie soundtracks like Remember the Titans, so I can always picture myself in my own training montage)
What Are You Waiting For?, Hollaback Girl, The Sweet Escape--Gwen Stefani (almost any Gwen Stefani song pumps me up)
The First Single--The Format (very peppy and upbeat)
Higher Ground--Red Hot Chili Peppers (this song definitely makes me want to run faster)

I'm always looking for new songs to add to my playlist. Got any recommendations?

Off and running....

From my warm bed, I can see the running shoes and clothes I set out the night before. I pull the comforter up to my neck.

This is it. The day to seriously start training for a triathlon. I set a deadline, because that's how I work. I need the pressure of the clock ticking to get my booty moving.

But from my cozy vantage point, looking at the dark grey clouds out the window, the last thing I want to do is slip on those running shoes.

An hour later, fueled by Honey Bunches of Oats, Coffee and kids kisses. I'm at the corner waving goodbye to my kids on the yellow bus and thinking: "Time to run."

During my walking warm up all those familiar doubts creep into my head. "I don't have time to do this." "This is too hard." "Its cold and rainy." "There's laundry and bills to do." Then another part of my brain yells "Stop whining, and go."

I finally arrive at the track. The voices of doubt in my head are quiet now, waiting to see if I run or bail. They're poised to offer me new excuses to head for home. But then my legs take over and I run. My lungs fill up. I no longer notice the cold. My head clears.

Don't get me wrong. I'm still fighting myself and my doubt. I run, then walk, then run, then walk. It feels good, and the voices change from "don't, can't, won't" to "I can do this," "I remember why I like this," and "This feels good."

So I'm off and running (and walking.)

But I have this sneaking feeling that swim suit isn't going to look very inviting from under the covers tomorrow morning.