Practicing What I Preach

Not regrets eh?   Yes late last week I wrote a post about regrets.   It was stemmed from the fact that on Wednesday I had skipped my run and regretted it.....and from that I made the conclusion that I usually only regret NOT doing something.  I had also made a statement that my plan for three runs that week wasn't lost since I still had Saturday morning.  Well .....cue the opening music for Saturday morning ....

It was early Saturday morning (too early to be awake if truth be known!).   I talked to mom, folded the laundry that had dried overnight and watched and episode of 'Vikings'.   In my mind I had it worked out how my morning would proceed!  When it came time for me to gear up to run I did the natural thing.  I picked up my phone to check the weather.   That's important because I needed to know how to dress. Lots of layers or the oh so wonderful one teeshirt?  What was it to be?   It took a few seconds to load the weather and I just wanted to cry.    20° with a 'feels like/windchill' of 10°.  Brrrrrrrr.  I debated...but then said 'no regrets' and put on a few layers of clothes.

It was cold.   The cold went right through my gloves...for the first few minutes. But the act of running produces heat and magically I was pretty much ok temperature wise for the rest of the run!  Early into the run though I just knew that the victory would be in completing the base mileage that I had set in my head as my goal.  It just wasn't a 'magical' run where everything feels fantastic!

No fears...I got it done!!  And guess what....I felt great when it was over!  I was proud of myself when it was over.  I had absolutely no regrets!!!!

When I had left the house I hadn't heard anyone stirring so I left a note on the inside of the door saying, 'I am out running, be home and such and such time, if you leave do not lock me out!' .  When I arrived back home I found the piece of paper hanging on the outside of the door with a new note written on it....

It says Door is always locked to keep the rid raf out!   And signed management.

Yes, when I opened the door and pushed my way into the house he yelled out from the kitchen, saying 'Hello rif raf, I thought I locked the door!'  That's my dad!  (And the best part....he felt good enough to make the joke!!).  Hahaha dad!

Jason and I hiked over the weekend and although I was achy when we were done, it was fabulous to get out!!

This is some kind of old foundation along the Appalachian Trail.

And the first overlook we hiked too....

An icy spring 

And a later overlook the top of Hogback Mountain.

At one point when we were climbing to the top of Hogback Mountain I was seriously wondering how my run on Monday was going to go after the leg workout the hike was giving me.   But I was determined to run on Monday!

Cue the music for Monday morning........

Ahhh it was a bit nippy at 30° but there was absolutely no question in my mind that I was running.   Even when my parents invited me to breakfast...I declined the offer...I had a run to complete!!

I could feel the effects of the mountainous hike while I ran....and I didn't set any records for my pace...but 3.42 miles have been recorded!!!!!!!

No regrets

I planned to run three times this week.   With my schedule the most obvious and easy days to run were the days that I came in at 10 in the morning.  This past week that was Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.  No problem!   Monday came and I pulled on my running gear and hit the road.  Day one down.   Wednesday morning rolled around.  I checked the weather.  It was close to 60° but had a 30% chance of rain for the morning.  That wasn't bad odds!!!  I laced up my shoes and made it to the front door. My mom called out 'its rainy'.  I looked out the window at the wet roads and even though there was no precipitation falling from the skies, I retreated and chose not to run. My decision was in no way my mothers fault...I made the choice.  Me and me alone!  But an hour or so later when my mother looked out the window and announced that my brother was just getting back from his bike ride the regret started!

All day long when I saw that it was nice and that it didn't rain until the mid afternoon. I regretted it.  

On Thursday morning when I woke up to cold and high winds I regretted losing that nice warm run the day before.   The whole time I ran I regretted the loss of that fabulous running weather from Wednesday!

Now as for the three runs...I don't work Saturday so I should be able to make up the list run!  But I still regret losing Wednesday!!!!

Regrets.   As I ran on Thursday I was thinking about regrets.   And I started thinking about regrets in my life.

1.  I regret not leaving my marriage when it first fell apart....happiness could have come my way so many years earlier.
2. I regret not trying to lose the weight at a much much earlier age!
3. I regret not stopping the weight gain after I had lost all the weight!
4. I regret the fact that I was running consistently and I stopped and now I have to start at close to scratch!  (Ok not scratch because I can run a mile...but it's slooow....much slower than when I was running consistently!)
5. I regret not having kids.
6. I regret not putting my health as a priority for so many years.
7. I regret not pushing for a different career path!
8. I regret the fact that I did not run on Wednesday!!

Wow all of my major life regrets were from things I didn't do!!!!    I realized that I never regretted trying something!  My major regrets in life were for NOT doing something!!

The decision to 'not' do something was the catalyst for regret!     So that of course made me think about that runnin Wednesday.  Why had I stopped and given up?? Was I afraid of getting wet?   I've run in the rain before...in cold rain too!    Was I afraid of the cold?  Nope, I had run many runs in cold!!!!!   I just didn't because the rain was an excuse to be lazy.   And I regretted it!!!

Never once have I gone out running and said 'I regret that run!!!!   I shouldn't have gone!   I ALWAYS come back feeling like a million bucks!!   Maybe a bit sore but emotionally recharged and full of energy!    When I pound out a mile or two in some vicious weather I feel like a Viking warrior that has just completed a successful raid!!!!  Totally bad ass!!!!

I want to live a life of no regrets!!!!!   That means I have to do what I set out to do and stop doubting myself so much that I give up and stop!!!

Now for the nitty gritty......bullet point style...just because I can.

**My food is still not the greatest but that just gives me room for improvement right?  I am under that 1800 calorie goal that I set though!!!!

**As I mentioned I did run on Thursday.  I was actually very pleased with my run.  I was just about one minute faster per each mile!  I felt strong and would have gone further but I got a bit of a late start and didn't have the extra time!!!

**I'm drinking my water...some days it's the bare minimum of what I aim for (64 ounces) but I'm drinking!!!

**This morning my heel has bothered me.   Planters Fasciitis hurt.  Nooooo!!!  I do not want that planters fasciitis to read it's ugly head!  If I had KT tape with me I would be taping my foot.  I will be doing that tonight to try to nip this issue in the bud!! I will be freezing a water bottle and rolling my foot tonight too!!!  In the meantime I have a bottle of unfrozen water under my desk and I am standing and rolling my foot on that!!!

**I am planning a run tomorrow morning!   I've got some mileage to make for my running goal for March.  And we are hoping to hike this weekend also!!!