Starting to contemplate outfits for the Pittsburgh Half. (Because one of the perks of running is being a peacock, wearing bright colors, and showing off.) If race day is as hot as last year, I’m going to wear shorts (!!)–like actual shorts, not knee length shorts like I did for CLE last year. If its not going to be as hot I’ll wear capris. So the big decision is shirt…pink and yellow are my favorite colors to rock for races. Not sure I want to go with my ‘You Just Got Chicked’ shirt for PGH. I don’t know. Kinda wanna get something new, but I hold to the mantra ‘nothing new on race day’ so whatever I’m wearing I have to have ready by the weekend before when I run my 15. Starting to peruse my web sources, though I really should peruse Target, Kohls & Dicks to see if there is anything that appeals to me.
Month: April 2013
Unreal…
Who is this woman?
Saw 139.5 flash on the scale this morning. Wearing size 8 jeans and a medium tee. Just signed up for a full marathon.
I can’t believe who I am. I can’t believe how far I’ve come.
Guess it’s official:
“Dear Emily XXX,
Congratulations, you have made the COMMITMENT and are registered for the 2013 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon!”
Look out Columbus, I’m gonna run all over you. 😀
Profound…
Me: In a way, I’ve fallen in love with myself while running. I’m happy. Confident. Nothing matters but the run itself. If I could carry those feelings into the rest of my life I’d be invincible.
JLo: That is the most profound thing I’ve heard in a long time.
Perspective…
I ran across some old pictures over the weekend…
Left: Cleveland Half Marathon Right: Just A Short Run Half Marathon
May 2012 ; time: 3:25:27 March 2013 ; time: 2:32:08
Less than a year. I’m a completely different person. Even my posture is different. I truly am an athlete now. (Though I love that pink and yellow are consistently my race colors. LOL) I’ve very closely guarded the pics from Cleveland last year. I was horrified when I saw them. Disgusted. Ashamed. But running across them, especially this weekend after that ridiculous PR put a LOT into perspective for me. I started to think about how much I’ve changed, how much I’ve grown as a person. Yes, I’ve changed physically, but I feel like the physical changes are manifestations of me finding myself, being honest with myself, going after what I really want, challenging myself and doing things that scare me. I tend to get very caught up in the physical. I always have. Old habits, old tendencies, old thought patterns die hard and I’ve been trapped in the funhouse mirror for a very long time. But that’s starting to change. I had a moment yesterday, where I was deeply disappointed with the race and my performance. I felt it wasn’t good enough, I wasn’t good enough. I should’ve pushed harder. The cramps were a lame excuse, I should’ve pushed through. I couldn’t figure out why I was suddenly feeling that way, because it did come on suddenly. Then I realized–I hadn’t had enough to eat that day. I hadn’t yet eaten dinner. And my calories were a little low the day before as well. So I ate dinner, messed with my calories in MFP, raising my net so I HAVE to eat more. Consciously realizing that restricting my calories not only makes me crazy, but makes me intensely dislike myself–put things into perspective. Who lives like that? Not me. Not anymore. There was a time I would’ve. The girl in picture on the left would’ve. The girl in the picture on the left DID. The woman in the picture on the right refuses to. Eff that. I’m a ROCKSTAR. Would I have finished the race faster if my uterus hadn’t been trying to claw its way out? Probably. But I still exceeded my own expectations. I was expecting a 2:40ish finish. I killed that–despite being in a ridiculous amount of pain. I am an ATHLETE. I persevered and I KICKED ASS.