the memorial day run

I ran the long loop at the local park. though not the extended long loop, because I didn't want to overdo it. I can't even remember how many miles it is. I'll have to figure that out. I do have to say that I feel my endurance is already improving. slightly. that's a good sign.

my calves were tight, but the hamstrings held up reasonably well.

it was good to be out there. slight rain. brisk.

embrace the suck: I can do hard things.

{image via}

so many people in my life have been inspiring me lately. today I read this post and this post, by my friend, jen, and just couldn't help but adopt her mantra, embrace the suck. I want to do things that make me hurt. that make me feel alive. that suck. it's sounds a little crazy, to want to hurt, but if you are an endurance athlete you know what I mean.

yesterday I went running with my friend tori. she's on the journey to ironman and I couldn't be more thrilled (plus slightly jealous) for her. she has pushed through injuries and setbacks and is planning on racing ironman cozumel this fall. she has gotten me so excited for a little triathlon we'll be doing together in june. I'm just doing the sprint distance, though in my heart of hearts I wish I was doing the olympic with her. but I have to be realistic and I have to take things slow. and let's be honest, the sprint is probably all I can handle right now. it's weird to say this, but the 5K run is what is freaking me out the most! did I just say that?

I'm also planning on doing a bike relay this summer. maybe this summer will be about the bike and swim. not so much the run. though if I could swing it, and my familia is serious, I would love to run the hobblecreek half marathon. (who's started training??!)

and that leaves us to the swim portion of my summer. I'm committing myself to a 5K marathon swim. yes, that's swimming 3.1 miles in open water. it might sound crazy, but when I initially heard about this event I secretly wanted to do the 10 mile swim! crazy much?!

so see, I've been craving the suck. I need to push myself and test my limits again. I want to remind myself that I can push past the pain + negative thoughts. that I can do hard things.

this time it's for real

I know I've said it before, that I have rededicated my life. and usually that rededication has lasted one day. exercising has seemed to allude me since becoming a mother. I'd like to think that if I had never had all the nerve damage that I would have been back into it six weeks postpartum, but who's to know? finding a time to fit in a workout is just hard with a baby, drop foot or not.

but my baby isn't so baby anymore. and I'm finding a routine. and I've decided that I need to get back into it. it's been too long. so you know what, I've finally embraced something that I've known for so long but didn't want to face: to get a workout in, I need to be an early AM exerciser.

you know what the trick was? finding something I don't mind waking up at 5:30a for. it turns out spin class has been the best thing for me and my drop foot self. it gets me up in the morning, it gets me moving. it's helping to strengthen my bum hamstring.

and you know what? my running is feeling a lot more normal because of it. it's starting to feel good again. I'm really out of shape, but I guess that's to be expected. it's a long road back, but I feel like I've put on my shoes and stepped out the door. I'm on my way.