Begin where you are...part 2

Jul 27

How often do you put on your workout clothes and hope that you'll make it to barre or yoga or squeeze in a run? It used to be that I always started my morning by pulling on the spandex and I would drop kids off like every other parent, but then I'd get that pre workout coffee and then...never workout! ugh! Then I started wearing "normal" clothes and tried to stop guilting myself about not getting any exercise because I had excuses galore as a solo parent. You name it, work at the store, writing assignment, job application, graduate application, dishes, lawn care, laundry, kid pick up, library book drop off/pick up, a cold...you get the idea.

It's been nearly a year since my fitness has been anywhere near consistent let alone focused, I stopped training for events years ago because I would sign up a year in advance or 6 months and then come race week would be suffering from bronchitis, ear infections, sinus infections but basically the inability to breath. I once gave a race bib to my hair person, and she hadn't been training but was up for the challenge. We didn't do an official transfer so, my race record will always reflect the absurdity of talking a hairstylist into running a half marathon on a hot day untrained (thankfully she enjoyed it).

Prior to moving to Bend, Oregon, I ran for me. And it was fantastic. It was my self care. I enjoyed hours on unoccupied trails in McDonald Forest or endless gravel roads in eastern Oregon. I would slog away an hour to two on a treadmill and thought I was having the time of my life. Then...I moved to Bend and besides being asked about my favorite beer (it will always be Deschutes) the most popular question I got was, "What are you training for?" I had run my first half-marathon around age 20 (self trained and I didn't grow up with cross country or track), and had run many since, as well as Hood to Coast, Keys 100 (as a relay), and did 75 mile road bike roads for fun on the weekends with friends (but more often than not, solo).

My first year in Bend was spent as a new mom, and honestly, just trying to run 4 straight miles without crying was a challenge! So, training, I was training to run and not burst into tears. Then came half marathons and ultras (I ran a 50 miler 15 months postpartum followed by a mountain marathon a week later and I spent the three weeks before the races in Kuwait, in July, attempting workouts when I could talk someone in my husband's office into watching our kid). I don't tell you this to celebrate accomplishments but to reveal the insanity a community can instill on the psyche (through no fault of its own).

Positive peer pressure can certainly be positive as long as you have the ability to gage for yourself how involved you want to be...without judgment. Sure, my friends might "encourage" meeting up for a workout class but for a good portion of this last year I haven't been up to it. Literally could not summon the energy to strap on cycling shoes (more about this in another post). I spent my Saturdays working (to pay for childcare - this is a post topic for another time) instead of mentoring for a half marathon training group like I have for the last 6 or so years. I am certainly a recovering ultra runner, but I'll always be a runner. My last year of recovery has revealed that I am not only a runner, but an adventurer. I am really up for taking in fun through experience.

Today I showed up motivated to begin a new year, a new plan, a new commitment to me and to my friends and to life. So, here's to beginning where you are. I ran and was present in every step without tears, without pressure, without music, without timing, just the beating of my own heart reminding me I am a vibrant happy person when I run.

How is your training, fitness, adventuring going? Any tips or tricks when you fall off your routine?