Inspiration Friday

Compliments of I ❤ to Run

You know me and that “F” word.  But it just seemed fitting today.  I AM tired.  But the funny thing is that it is only serving as more inspiration for the next week’s worth of workouts. I can feel myself getting stronger, faster.  I know my body is working hard, step after step, stroke after stroke, minute by minute.  And I’m not even in “real” marathon training yet either. Oy vey.

I’m currently on a 6 days on, 1 day off workout schedule.  Today is my day off. And my legs (and back, and arms, and shoulders, and feet) are thanking me. I know it’s repairing, healing, storing more energy for the next week.

My fatigue seems to fuel the desire for more fatigue, the kind of fatigue that makes you just want to lay down and sleep that really good kind of sleep, but it’s the kind that takes you to your goals.  I love it. I want more of it. I have missed it. This is not to say that I haven’t told the kickboard to f**k off when I was doing my swim workout.  I’m not saying I didn’t roll my eyes when I was doing an 8 mile run and I thought we had done 4 miles but we were only at 3.  But I kept swimming and running, because I know that quitting is not an option.

I’ve had two people call me crazy this week.  I just laugh and think that we are all a little crazy in our own right.  Marathon running isn’t crazy in the least either, at least it isn’t to me and tons of other people.  I’m not a “100-mile race” crazy, or a “full iron distance” crazy… yet.  So I thought about what inspires me and keeps me going.

I don’t think there’s just one thing that motivates me.  A challenge? Showing my kids that if they put their minds to it, they can accomplish their goals?  The endless piles of food I can eat?  Probably all of them.  But I think that truly, the most inspiring thing for me is to know that I put everything into the process of meeting my goal, and then meeting it. It’s a rush.  It’s a “lookey what I can do” for myself. It’s adrenaline and endorphins all packed into a little pill that takes the form of a race. It’s addicting.

I know for now, I accomplished my goal to be able to run the Boston Marathon.  Now I want to crush it there.  I want to complete a 1/2 iron distance next October.  And the only way to do these things is to put the work into it.  I’ve half-assed myself through so many races in the past… sure I’ve put the miles in, but I haven’t done all the extra work that goes along with training.  Sometimes a PR or a certain time wasn’t the goal, and I’m totally ok with that.  Now it’s time.  I’m going to kick it’s ass. I won’t know how much ass I can kick until I do it the right way, either. No fear, right?

For today, I’m tired as F**K, but I’m ready to head back out tomorrow.  I’m looking forward to it.

What motivates you and keeps you going?