Run Through It

Sometimes life gets overwhelming.  

Sometimes you just have a bad day.  

Sometimes you just need an escape.  

I needed that today.  It wasn’t one specific thing; it was the compilation of several days’ worth of frustration.  I found myself being short with others.  I could feel the tension in my shoulders.  I was both physically and mentally tired.  Then it hit me, I needed a RUN!

Due to the operational tempo of what I do out here in Afghanistan, it’s hard to disappear for a run mid-day.  I’ve tried running at night, but it’s still pretty chilly out here and I’m not a huge fan of running in the dark alone out here…doesn’t seem very smart.  But today I decided for the good of everyone around me and for my own sanity, that it was worth it to lace up my running shoes and hit the road.

Four miles later I was a totally new person!  I had my smile back, I had a little bit more energy, and I was my old self! 

It’s so nice to know that no matter how overwhelmed I get at times, the road and my sneakers will always be waiting for me.  They know that they provide a place of solitude, a moment of sanity, and peace of mind.  It may take me an hour, a day, a week, or a month to find my way back, but they will be patiently waiting with open arms.  

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Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for Malinda Ann Hill of Twins Run In Our Family!! I tweeted about how much I wanted the Weasel to extend her nap so I could just register without any problems, and Malinda not only wished me luck, but she posted a link just minutes before the actual registration site opened (at least from my computer)! I was able to register on my first attempt and I'm ecstatic! I ran the MCM way back in 1999 when I HATED running and I LOVED it...can't wait to tackle it again.

Thanks Malinda!!

Good Initiave, Bad Judgement

The title refers to a common sentiment I heard when I was on active duty. Basically, it means, "I appreciate the effort and idea, but seriously, you've got to be crazy to think that's a good plan." Which brings me to my latest bright idea:

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As I'm sure I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm currently training for a half marathon. I was crushing my training plan (well, at least the novice one that I was mistakenly using here) through the end of December and even a bit into January...and then my husband got home, we were out of town for 3 weeks, and I remembered how much I love beer. No worries, after a couple weeks home, Jason is back to work and I've made it to most of our group workouts and logged a couple "long" runs. So, feeling somewhat confident about my readiness for this upcoming race - did I mention it's in a little over a week and a half?! - I went a little crazy. In fact, I've gone totally INSANE!

Inspired by a friend's FB post, I decided to take the Insanity Fit Test on Monday. Terrible idea! I was so sore for our run on Tuesday. But I pushed through in order to make an even worse decision. I did the Plyometric Cardio Circuit following our run. Hey, the Weasel was sleeping, so I took advantage. Yeah, with the half marathon right around the corner, I'm seriously rethinking this brilliant idea. I think I need to push pause until the race is over. But so far I love the program. 

One thing I'm confused about though...the text book definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." So is that really a good name for this style of training? Just wondering... 

It's A Love Affair...

I've spent about 1/3 of my married life (which really isn't that long since we got hitched in 2008) begging for massages. Foot, back, shoulder, hand...you name it, I want it. Unfortunately, I married a man who loves to receive massages and is quite frugal when it comes to handing them out. (Don't get me wrong, I'm by no means starving for attention from him, it's just that I'd like to get a daily massage and he's more the once a week type.)

Enter my new love:

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I picked up this little beauty about halfway through my husband's last deployment. A little something to tide me over while he was gone. Well, he got home 2 1/2 months ago, and I haven't stopped spending time with my new love. When he falls asleep, I pull it out from under my side of the bed and take care of my hamstrings and calves. And if it's a good night, I may even hit up my hip flexors.

Seriously, the benefits of owning a foam roller are numerous. Here's a great link from Runner's World complete with videos on how to properly utilize your foam roller. So what are you waiting for...go get one! 

Things I Like About Me - Part 2

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Well, it’s time for the “other half” of the blog to talk about Things I Like About Me (even though it's past the "link up" time frame).  While deployed it is very, very easy to get irritable because you’re working long hours, there are no days off, and you have to deal with the exact same people every single day.  And since Jen shared a quote with you, I will share with you a mantra that I use daily to help me keep perspective:

Today I am fortunate to have woken up.  I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am going to use my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.  I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others.  I am going to benefit others as much as I can.

Though I’m not 100% sure how that ties in to liking myself, I wanted to share it.  Here is my attempt at a list of things I like about myself:

1.  I am the most positive person I know.  I can find the good in anyone or anything and I refuse to let frustration get the best of me.
2.  I have an excellent grasp on the English language.  As a Latin major, I spent quite a bit of time learning basic grammar. (I’m really good at Scrabble.) 
3.  I can laugh at myself.  I never take myself too seriously.  When I make mistakes, I learn, laugh, and move on.
4.  I have the utmost faith in humanity. I believe that all people want to be good and that there is good in everyone.
5.  I am very organized.  I set timelines, I stick to them, and I am very reliable. 
6.   I am good at my job.  I understand the technicality of my career field, I take care of my Marines to the best of my ability, and I learn new things on a daily basis. 
7.  I play the piano.  It’s one of those skills that’s fun to have and I play when I need to relax.

So there you have it, an entirely positive post about me. I urge you to follow the example from Just.Be.Enough and share your thoughts about yourself. Thanks for reading mine. 

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