Finding my motivation

It has been months since I ran consistently.  Granted my life is busy, with a new family practice clinic, a new boarding kennel, running a free health clinic, moving my Dad in with us, caring for 14 rescued fur-babies and just the general everyday family obligations, but I still feel guilty about not running.

Not running is like a dark cloud that followed me around everyday - why not run today? are you going to run?? running? 

I have been reading several books lately - Make it Happen by Lara Casey, Women Who Do To Much by Patricia Sprinkle and the Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner. Each of these authors have been speaking directly to me with each page I finish...quit making excuses, find the time, make it happen.

Well Sunday I answered the question - I got on the treadmill. I wouldn't exactly call it running maybe more waddling, but I got on the treadmill and moved my legs.
It felt great - no not really, my legs hurt, my hip hurt, I was dying of thirst...but I did it.!

Guess what I got back on the treadmill on Monday.  This time, I finished with patients early so I used my lunch time to go to the gym.  Once again, It felt great - nooooo not really, but I did it.
Now to find the motivation to keep doing it... to keep moving....to run.

This is MeMe - 16 years old and still running

Stay tuned see how I do.

~ Connie ~

I Run...So I will not have regrets

Read My Story

My routine since finishing school and starting a new family practice has been to get up between 2 AM and 4 AM with my four-legged babies to potty, going back to bed and sleeping till 6 AM when I wake-up the Big Man and he takes over the kennel duties.  

I sleep in our toss and turn till 7:30... today I changed.

I got up and hit the treadmill.  It felt great.  I got in 30 minutes!  It was a walk / run but I was moving.  

I loved every minute of the activity. 

I Run so I will not have regrets.... 

I meet my husband running.  After 25 years of law enforcement (he was the entry person for the swat team) he developed COPD (chronic bronchitis), diabetes, and had to have knee replacement. He can no longer run.  I run because I know how quickly something you love can be taken away from you.
Enjoy every minute of life while you can....
~ Connie ~ 

Finding motivation

I have not been consistent with posting on Training Thursday. My inconsistency in blogging goes hand in hand with my inconsistency in training. 

When my children were little, I thought – I will have time to be healthy when the kids were grown.  Well, the kids are grown.

When I worked shift work or 12 hours shifts, I thought– I will have time to be healthy when I have a Monday – Friday, 8 to 5 job.  Well, I have that job.

When I had to go to the gym to use the treadmill, I thought– If I had a treadmill at home I could use it every day and be healthy.  Well, I have a treadmill.

When it is cold or hot, I think – if my I could exercise inside where it is cooler or warmer,  I would be healthy.  Well, I can exercise inside. I have a free gym membership.

The being fat 24 hours a day isn’t working for me. 

I really have no one to blame.  Only more questions to answer.

How do I change my mindset?  How do I find my mojo?  Where is the motivation to put my running shoes?

I would love to hear from you - How do you find your mojo when you don't want to exercise? What motivates you to exercise?

~ Connie ~

Training Thursday - Finding Motivation

"If you don't have confidence, you'll always find a way not to win."
- Carl Lewis

I have been struggling with wanting to be a runner. 

For several years I have focused on:"I am a runner because I run, not because I run fast, not because I run far.  I am a runner because I say I am and no one can tell me I am not."

I can't run far and I don't run fast.  In high school my coach enjoyed telling me how un-athletic I am.  I played basketball, volleyball, and ran track. I was never great at any of them.   My track experience was horrible. I was disappointed and embarrassed every time I got on the track.

Today when I run I don't want anyone to watch - I still feel like that chunky little girl that could not win  a race. 

So why, did I decide a couple of years ago that my goal is to run a half-marathon before I turn 50???

Is it because I want to be what I wasn't in high school - an athlete?  Is it because I want to prove something to my old coach? 

Can a nonrunner run a half-marathon in 40 days? Probably not.  What a nonrunner can do is be true to herself.  I can run because I want to.  I can run for my health. I can run for my future.
So - off I go to build my confidence and pursue my dream of being a runner.
~ ConnieKay~

First Run of the Half-Marathon Training Plan

Early Morning Sky

Wow - 5:30 AM is early, but I knew if I did not run this morning I would not run today - Great River Charitable Clinic tonight. 

The run was difficult.  I felt sluggish and stiff.  My speed is slow but I have always been slow.  Need to find the motivation to keep moving.
~ Connie ~

Starting Over

On of the blessing we often overlook is the ability to start over. In January 2008 I started running - it was about me. Over the past two years I have lost balance in my life. This weekend I picked spending time with my kids over work or volunteer activities. I also bought a treadmill. No excuses now. I can run in the morning and bike in the evenings with my husband.

My husband has become my motivation - he has worked hard and lost 30 pounds. He has encouraged me to sign up for the St. Jude Half-Marathon. So here we go... I am starting over. See one of my goals - below - run 500 miles this year.

Simply Life

Woo Hoo!!! I did it - I have hit the road running again. It felt difficult at first but then I found my stride and everything started to feel comfortable. The sweat was great...

Next day the legs were sore but a good sore...

Monday is a few hours away and I have a plan. Running three days - yoga one day - maybe some step aerobics one day and a couple of short bike rides.

I am also reading a couple of books - it is refreshing to read for pleasure.

I am dealing with a personal issue that has me considering my involvement with a volunteer group. The overall group is great, the mission of the project focuses on very basic principles of Christianity. The issue is one person - who is always negative and wants to be confrontational all the time.
So - do I allow conforntation to limit my ability to help others???

I guess I could look at this person like a marathon - keep pushing, plan for the unexpected and do not look back...stay on course.

My kids sent me flowers this week the card read "the race is not always to the swift...but to those who keep on running."

I think I will keep on running!!!

A Great Day

What is a Great Day - A 10 mile bike ride with your best friend who just happens to be your husband to Starbucks. A couple of hours in the pool followed by a nap and then a three mile run...and an evening of scrapbooking with friends. Call it a mini-vacation. I need a day like this every week.

Refocusing

I start a journal but never find the time to journal everyday. I think about my blog only when I feel the need to journal but do not have the time. Life is unpredictable. I find myself not as driven at work and more focused on myself and family.

So why, is it as we age we realize that we have only a limited amount of redos? If so what would you redo? For me, I would redo only a few things in life. The first redo would be not to work as many hours as I have - until this week I have been a full time insturctor / director of an Associate Degree Nursing Program / part-time consultant online and most recently I accepted the position of director of a chariable health clinic all while working on a doctorate in education. The second would be make sure those you love know how much you love them.

What is important - my family, spending time with those I love. Doing the things that are important to me - running, trout fishing, scrapbooking, gardening and learning. The big yellow dog - is my running buddy. We should take lessons from our four-legged friends on life. He will run as far as I ask him and as hard as I do - simply to spend time with me.

Learning to balance life-
OK - as I am typing this whole balance life sentence - my youngest son calls - new grandbaby on the way. I guess I need to go so I can digest the fact that youngest son (24) was recently laid off and now he has new responsibilites.