A Chat With My High School Self

I came across these pictures while looking through a box of old photographs the other day, and I laughed right out loud.  Back in the 10th grade, I was bored with running the mile in track and believing myself to be more an endurance runner than a sprinter, I decided (in all my youthful running wisdom) that the 300 meter hurdles were the answer.  (It's okay, you can laugh too.)

I had never run hurdles in my life... I didn't even know if I could run and jump!  And the kind, well-meaning football coach who also coached track and cross country wasn't quite sure what to do with me but to say okay and train me to run hurdles.  So when the first practice rolled around and I finally got up the nerve to actually jump over one of those things, I fell.  I fell hard and slid.  On pavement.  I had what looked like a melted jolly rancher on my hand for weeks, two skinned knees and a new found fear when I approached a hurdle.

But I did not give up. No sir. There was probably a high school boy who would be impressed by my hurdle jumping skills if I just stuck with it (and I'm sure he was after looking at that stellar form) and so Coach Newby and I kept training.  And while my form never really improved much and I still spent way too much time in the air, I started to catch up to some of the other girls on our track team who ran hurdles.  Coach Newby even suggested I start running the 100 meter hurdles (those are higher and closer together), and I finally agreed to train for those as well (while shaking in my running shoes).

The day before I was to run both the 300 meter and 100 meter hurdles in a meet, I went for a slow jog around my neighborhood because my legs were so sore.  And it wasn't jumping hurdles that put me on the ground, but a simple misstep off the curb.  I sprained my right ankle badly and was out for the rest of the season.  The next year I attended one track practice before deciding (as was my way back then) that swim team was more my thing (I had never ever ever attempted to swim fast any distance, any event... ever).

But now as I look at that picture and remember the high school girl who tried everything while never really being good at any of it and as I remember the things she used to worry about, I wish I could tell her some things.  I wish I could say, "You are capable of so much more than you realize.  In fact, you are going to do things you haven't even considered yet. You are going to run over 20 marathons and get much faster than you are now. You are going to run 50 miles and actually enjoy it. You are going to marry an amazing man. You are going to have a daughter. You are going to be comfortable in your own skin one day - yes, even with these legs you think are fat." 

And then when my high school self looked at my 34 year old self in disbelief and shook her head, I would nod and say again, "Yes, it's true. You are capable of so much more than you realize."

In high school and even college, I was chasing after something more while never really believing I'd actually catch it, and I wish wish wish I could just tell that girl, "You are going to catch it ALL and then keep going!"  I wish I could tell her to have faith, REAL faith, because God, as He has promised, will come through in ways that far surpass her hopes and imagination.

But... at the end of the day, all I can do is look at that picture and smile at my high school self.  I can try to take whatever wisdom my 34 years have granted me and continue to grow. I can try to be someone my 64 year old self will like, and I can try to impart what little I know to my daughter so maybe she'll be braver and stronger than I was.  This little chat I'd have with myself is not to say I'm some sort of amazing creature now. No, there are many who have and will do so much more than anything I've mentioned here.

I guess the point is to remember that the limits we place on ourselves don't have to stick, to take a look at who we are now and realize it's not the end of the road.  And maybe my high school self could tell me a thing or two as well.  Maybe she'd look at her 34 year old self and say, "Don't be afraid to take on those hurdles.  Even if you think you might fall and even if your form is way off, jump anyway."

The Benefit of Yelling at My Garmin

The other day I ran Eloise over to my sister's house, and then ran home solo while Eloise played with Julie and the kids.  This allows me to get in a few faster miles without the stroller.  I was aiming for 8 miles total and I was keeping an eye on my watch to see how far I'd gone so I knew what route to take back to my house.

As I was running around a familiar loop, I looked at my Garmin and the screen had changed to the time of day.  I couldn't see my mileage so I didn't know if I should take the longer route or the shorter route home.  I tapped it a few times and nothing happened.  It only beeped at me.  I tapped it a few more times as I ran before stopping all together and tapping it more forcefully.  I finally said, "Come on, Stupid," as I tapped tapped tapped and it beeped beeped beeped. 

And then I heard a voice.  "Do you want a running partner?"  I looked up and there was a girl working in her yard - the very yard I was standing in front of yelling at my watch.  I smiled and said, "Yes, I do."  She said, "Really?" as if she had not expected me to say yes at all, and a conversation began.  She said she had seen me running by often and that she likes to run but doesn't run during a time when any of her friends usually go, and I said I had that same problem.  She said her name was Amy but everyone called her Peaches.  She was/is a body builder of sorts and has won several competitions.  I told her I had family who did that as well and we continued to chat for a bit longer, getting to know each other a little.  I liked her right from the start.

She gave me her phone number before I continued on my way telling me to call her the next time I ran.  I was pretty pumped about this.  All of my runs lately have been mid-morning, usually beginning around 8:30-9:00 a.m. when Eloise starts to get sleepy, and because of this they are always alone (with a sleeping baby for company).  When my mom comes to watch Eloise, I still end up running about that same time and alone.  So the thought of having someone to chat with and distract from the mid-morning heat was a nice one.

The next morning I pulled out Peaches' number and smiled as I texted her.  I hoped she was serious when she gave me her number because I intended to use it.  She was game to join me and Eloise, so I ran a loop in my neighborhood before making my way to her house.  We had a GREAT run.  We talked the whole way and I did not give much thought to my tired legs, the challenge of running with a stroller uphill or the heat and humidity in which we were running.  I just ran and enjoyed getting to know my new partner. 

On our way back we picked up another runner named Charlotte and she joined us for a climb up a hill.  My legs were seriously burning, but once again I was distracted by my pals and our conversation.  Charlotte turned off into her neighborhood and then I dropped Peaches off near her house on my way home. She had gotten almost 5 miles and I was getting 6.5 total. 

I'm pretty pumped to have a new running buddy.  And what a funny surprise to find one while having a Garmin issue.  I laughed as I thought about her offering to run with the crazy girl standing in the road yelling at her watch, but I'm so very glad she did.

A Reason to Run Barefoot

If you opened this post thinking there would be some deep, scientifically sound explanation as to why running barefoot is a good idea... you were WRONG!  I've got nothing against barefoot running - I'm kind of neutral on the subject (get it?  Neutral!) but if I tried it, this would be the reason. Check out those tan lines!  My feet don't look like they belong with my legs.  This is the result of winter running in the south.  It was rarely too cold for shorts this winter and I always ran in the middle of the day.  I have a pretty rockin' tan line on my arms too, which is going to make tank top season quite attractive at first. 

Many friends have commented on my tan in surprise.  To have one at the beginning of spring/summer (the seasons are kind of the same here) seems odd, but I've always tanned easily and quickly.  Hence my magnificent tan lines! 

And did you notice that cute thing crawling towards me, undeterred by the white feet on tan legs?

This is what happened next.  She got me!

Then she stood up which is all she wants to do these days.  She thinks she's a big girl now or something.  We will be surrounded by toys, but her favorite every time is Mommy the Jungle Gym.  With awesome tan lines.

Simplification and Control...and I Wish I Knew html

So I'm changing my blog design back to what it was before and I'm going to spruce it up myself.  I want control.  I just do.  It is my only creative outlet (besides my new found love of cooking and getting to work in my flower beds and garden soon) and I want to do it all... even if I'm not good at it.  It would really help for me to know html but I'm kind of lazy when it comes to taking the time to learn. I may unlazify myself, though, and do it.

I also like a simple design.  What I really hate is when I go to read a blog and there's junk everywhere.  I hate ads.  Even if they are useful (and let's face it, they rarely are).  I know you get money if people click on them or whatever, but they clutter up a blog or website and they are annoying.  I like a few bits of flare and color, but not too much junk.  I like symmetry.  I like cohesion and a good color scheme.  I really just wanted to use the word "cohesion" but I do like it for real. And I wasn't really crazy about the font of the previous template.  It was too small and light.  I know I'm weird, but your blog is like your hairdo - you should really like it. 

So if you've been a long time reader, you may recognize this design as the one I had before.  BUT, it is also time to update the theme of the blog itself.  It is still going to be primarily about running and training and all the fun adventures and stories that go along with my beloved sport, but I want to write a little more about raising Eloise, my cooking catastrophes, maybe a little about life in general... I want to expand I guess you could say.  I'm a mom and a housewife now so I think it is somewhat natural that I begin to become more... what do you call it... home-maker like.  Or something.

But a runner I am and I runner I hope I will always be and that will forever be the overlying and underlying theme of this ole blog.  And one day I'd like for Eloise to get on here and poke around and see this version of her mom.  If I were to pass away before the age of 97 or 107, I'd like for this to be something I'd leave for her. 

And while we are on the subject of my precious baby girl, let me tell you - she is CRAWLING!  Oh yes.  And she is going to stand before long because she is experimenting with it.  And let me just tell you something else, I am about to be in big trouble.  I am about to be on my toes 24/7.  Why?  Because she is my child and I was a WILD THING when I was little.  I'm not kidding.  Mom and Dad laugh about payback and I always laughed back thinking, "Bring it!"  But I'm going to admit to you here and now that I'm a tad scared.  But I'm also me, so I know I can handle a mini-me.

And speaking of my mini-me, she is up way to early from her third way too short nap so I'm off to answer the call. 

Bits and Pieces

1. My baby hasn't pooped since November 18 and when she pooped that day it was because we held a suppository in that special place for 5 minutes (doctor's suggestion).  Yep.  I have talked to our doc multiple times and she says breast milk is so well broken down already that my baby is absorbing most of it.  And since she's not unhappy, uncomfortable or having hard stools, she's fine.  But I prefer for me and all my peeps to be regular, and so this stresses me somewhat. The doc said 2 ounces of diluted apple juice a day and I think I'm going to start giving her the entire bottle until I see results.

2.  I watched the American Music Awards for the first time ever the other day and I came away with a few things.

• I love Taylor Swift and I don't care who knows.  
• I don't understand Justin Bieber's pants.  I know for a fact if I wore pants I had to constantly grab in the crotch area on national television my mom would have a word with me, even at the age of 32.  
• Pink's performance was amazing.  Simply amazing.  
• I think I could be a famous rapper because all you have to do is jump around and say "party" over and over again.  I wouldn't want to wear the pants, though, so that's out.  But I really can rap.

 3.  I saw a hawk the other day on my run and he was amazing.  I've seen them from time to time while running, but I've never been this close or in such a residential area when I saw one.  This guy was sitting on the post of a brick fence bordering a fancy neighborhood and he was right next to the path where I was running.  Man, he was gorgeous.

4.  I almost have 5 clients at one time right now (2 are just now starting with me and I have 3 regulars) with Running Start, LLC and I love love love it.  All of them are seeing results too and I love love love that.  They've gotten PRs in the 5k, consecutive PRs in the half-marathon, weight loss goals met... it is just exciting to be a part of their journey this way.  I love it.

5.  Now that it is chilly outside, I think I could double my coffee intake.  I want it all day long.  Not for the caffeine, although I'm sure that helps, but for the sheer pleasure of a delicious warm beverage.  I try to space it out and I do switch to decaf if we have any... but I am in a serious daily love affair with my coffee.

6.  Next week I have something to do every day.  All of it is fun, though, so I'm not dreading it.  My sis told me to eat my wheaties.

7.  Next week I'm also doing something cool (I think) on this blog which I am calling Promotion Power Week.  I couldn't think of a more creative name, so PPW it is.  Stay tuned to find out just what, exactly, it is.  I will tell you there's a giveaway at the end and lots of chances to do good in the middle.

8.  Eloise is...how do I describe her... pure joy.  She makes hilarious noises these days that make Jason and me laugh.  She squeals, she coos, she hollers, she smiles all the time.  She is also a major wiggle worm.  Major. This child wants to GO all the time.  She doesn't know where, but she wants to go there.  When she can crawl...oh my word.  She already thinks she should stand up every moment she isn't sleeping.  I feel that I should have huge arm muscles and I check them out from time to time to see if I am buff.  I don't look it, but don't try to arm wrestle me.  She may be stressing me out by not pooing, but oh my word, I love this child.  As I sit here and blog, she has been in her swing, in her chair, and now she is in my lap sucking on the desk.  Maybe it has fiber.  Maybe she will poo today.  I'll let you know.

9.  I plan to decorate for Christmas on Dec 1.  I'm in the process of cleaning and neatening in preparation because if I don't the extra stuff in my house makes me crazy.  I think I am the anti hoarder.

10.  It is time for a second cup of coffee.  Happy Wednesday!

Fun Friday Laughs

I came across two pictures lately that just made me laugh and what better time to share them than on a Fun Friday!

So I have a boxer named Chance, and Jason and I constantly wonder what it will be like with Chance and a new baby on the scene.  Well...now I know!  Our little girl will have not only a protector...

She will have a babysitter as well!

Picture compliments of the I <3 Running Facebook page.

 

Fun on Friday

A friend of mine posted this picture on Facebook and I had to share it.  It cracks me up!

Happy Friday, everyone!  I hope you have a great weekend planned.  As for me, I will be closing out this No Boundaries season with the Liz Hurley Ribbon Run 5k tomorrow.  All of my No Boundaries runners are ready and excited (at least they seem so) and I am excited for them!  After 10 weeks of training together, we will hit the streets and run 3.1 miles for breast cancer awareness.

I'm not sure I have a PR in these legs, as I have not tapered at all, nor have I been focusing on the shorter, faster distances...but hey, I'll probably go for it anyway.  I hope to run a few miles at home before the race and then a few miles after the race with a friend who is training for her first half-marathon.

I just gotta say... so much training, so many new challenges, so many firsts and triumphs...that is why I LOVE this sport!  Happy Running to all of you racing this weekend!