Roller Coaster!

Oh it's been a while! Here's what's been going on:

My last run before I left for Vegas was rough. Looking back on it, I think it was really mental, but I struggled to do things I've done many times before...and usually with relative ease. As I'm running, I'm thinking about that fact though and obviously that doesn't help, so I gave myself (with the help of one of my many mentors :O)) a good pep talk to set myself straight. Sure, I may not have been able to run the distance I set out to that day, but what about all the things I CAN do now? I never thought I'd get into a routine, that I'd wake up early to run, that I'd run more than a 5k, that I'd realistically be approaching a half-marathon. I need to be thinking this way, or I won't reach my goal. I also decided to start a collection of things to motivate me, so I can keep those things in my mind when I'm running, especially pictures/notes/memories from my time AT camp! I am thrilled to be running for the Hole in the Wall camps, but because of the nature of their program, I am training alone. When I committed to this, my greatest concern was if I'd be able to stick to my training schedule without having a group I was constantly and consistently running with. Now, my struggle is with the fact that my goals are BIG, sometimes bigger than I think I can handle...and sometimes, bigger than I can handle. I need to be able to remember, at all times, WHY I wanted to do this, and why this is so important. My struggles are nothing compared to the hardships of the children who attend the Hole in the Wall camps. Camp gives them a chance to focus on being a carefree child, but they don't have the choice to just give up.....which means neither do I.

I did run one time while I was out in Vegas, which I'm going to consider a small victory. I would have liked to run 2x, but it was a... challenge. I got home late last night, and will probably try to go for a short run tonight, just to get myself going. Starting tomorrow though, it's time to get cracking. I have a tentative schedule I feel comfortable with, building up to 11 miles, which was my original goal, but I'm not naive enough to think that planning is enough. I think I also want to write more about it, so I can be sure I am celebrating my successes more than I am dwelling over my hard days and tough runs.

In going with my "pep up collection," I received THIS in the mail a few days before I went away, which is AWESOME!!!!!