On again, off again, on again.

I can't seem to find my groove.  Parenting + working full time + trying to start a business + maintaining a house + running endless errands + the holidays...  I was on track for such a long time.  I woke up at 3:30 & started my day at the gym 3-4 days a week and I was at the gym at least 1 day on the weekend.  Now, well, I haven't been to the gym since before Thanksgiving.  Sad, sad, sad.  First it was my son not sleeping through the night, so I was usually up at 3:30 with him, then it was being sick, then it was...  Well, it doesn't matter, the fact is I fell off the horse.  So, back on it I get!  Again.  If I put it in writing, I'll stick to it.  Back to the gym [ideally] 3 days/week + back to running 3 days/week.  That will get me in shape to run a 5k in no time, right?  Gosh, those are words I never thought I'd say! I can do this.  Right?

...I'll start "tomorrow".  haha  Seriously though, I am on the tail end of a cold & once I kick it out, I'm back on track!  NO MORE EXCUSES.  I LOOOOOVE working out, I just hate getting motivated to get there.

The Old Gray Mare...

Okay, old is a relative term. I can't say I'm all that old, but my body is sure telling me I'm not a spring chicken! My first obstacle with running (besides the obvious, the inability to run long w/out gasping for air & yearning for something to puke in) was the knee pain. Both knees screamed at me for the abuse I was giving. So much so, it was hard to walk for days. I seem to have passed that though (fingers crossed) & now I've moved on to the ankles. The inside ankles to be exact. Oh joy. My left ankle is the worst (coincidentally (or not??) it's the ankle I broke when I was in 7th grade). It throbs, hurts to touch, it's a bit swollen, & it's bruised. The right is a little sore, but nothing to worry much about. I'm not sure what the problem is (I've had no issues after months of heavy elliptical use & bike riding) & that frustrates me more than the pain. I'm a self proclaimed non-runner, I don't need anything to encourage my dislike for the sport! What I do need is for my body to cooperate & maybe even pretend like it's got a few less years on it. Meanwhile, I will keep pushing myself.

The strong-arm

That's my running buddy...  the strong-arm.  Actually, much meaner words pop into my mind while she's chanting "helpful" words as we run.  The woman is a machine, I swear.  She seems to feel no pain.  She runs laps.  Around me.  Yep, that's right, she's running laps around me as I'm sucking air, attempting to hold down the food I ate hours before, wiping snot off my face, and trying to push through the stabbing pain in my knees.  How does she do it?  I'm ready to just lay down in the road & I hear her saying "breathe through you nose", "open your eyes", "look up", "don't think about anything below your chin", etc.  (See woman?  I am listening... and thinking of ways to hurt you later.)

My lesson today?  Don't ever, I mean ever, take an extended break from running.  Between Thanksgiving, my knee injuries, being sick, and whatever else, we took just shy of 2 weeks off.  Getting back on that horse is hard.  Freaking hard.  (Oh, and lesson #2 - Denya sucks.)

Seriously though, I don't think I'd stick to this running thing if she weren't by my side.  She told me this morning that I'm the most stubborn (who, me?), disciplined (hahaha) person she's ever met.  Perhaps she was half right, but as I told her - I AM NOT A RUNNER.  With her by my side though, I think I can attempt to push through anything.  So, my bit of advice is - get yourself a Denya, quick!