Who motivates you to run?

We all find different motivation every single day or lack there of... a'hem.  I am guilty of not always feeling as motivated until after I FINISH LOL.  I'm always super motivated when I finish!!!

One reason I like to go to the YMCA to run is seeing people like this!  For me, since I am blessed enough to be healthy and not overly unfit, I have no excuses.  I see inspiration every time I'm at the Y, from the young mom sweating her stuff while her kids play in the nursery, to the man with one leg who runs with a metal (awesome, cool) hook like the blade runner, to the elderly people who regularly come to walk a little and talk a little!  

One of my biggest inspirations at the Y is this man.  He is a World War II vet and is at the Y every morning at about 5:30am.  He rides the stationary bike or takes a  brisk walk on the treadmill.  Talk about an inspiration!  

Sometimes he wears a shirt that says, "Every day is a bonus!"  Isn't that the truth?

This morning after sweating and huffing and puffing and barely hanging on, in walks my inspiration, smile on his face and a greeting for each of us.  As I was struggling for breath this morning, this man gave me new inspiration to keep running.  I'm sure he has seen far more adversity that I can even comprehend.  I picked up the pace and kept on running!

I asked this kind man if I could take his picture this morning.  He wasn't sure why this sweaty lady, who was a little teary in his presence, was wanting to pose for a picture with him.  But I shared with him that I am lazy, I dread coming, and he inspires me every day that I make it to the Y.  Thank you sir for being a shining star and getting me there!  

Gina

My hubby and I have been SO SICK!  UGH!  Right when you think you are on a roll and getting back in shape, what happens?  Ya get sick!  

Ah well... at least it was relatively short lived.  I only missed one day of work but easily could have been gone for almost three weeks.  I haven't been so sick in years.  Miserable stuff.  Thankfully though, it was just a cold and we are both back to almost normal.

This past Saturday I thought I was up to a run!  Doug and I had babysat for my great niece and great nephew the night before.  Whew!  They are active, but we had such a wonderful time, since we have no grandkids and we have only fur babies to spoil at home!  LOL.

I chose one of my favorite routes for Saturday's run - the Turkey Trot Route.  It offers both easy downhills and some super challenging uphills.  The views are beautiful and the feeling of accomplishment afterwards is so worth it.  

This route runs past the Veteran's Park in our area so in honor of the first Vietnam War remembrance holiday (just passed by President Trump), which was last week, I wanted to post this picture.

I have two uncles who were drafted in the Vietnam War.  One of my uncles adjusted okay after he came home and was able to resume his life, for the most part.  My Uncle C inspired me at a young age to stay fit and active.  He loved taking all of us to fitness trails and challenging us always to do the best!

The other uncle did not adjust okay, and still struggles simply to not be homeless on the street.  He chooses his life and has plenty of money, but definitely has lots of issues as a result of his service in Vietnam.  Who knows what part of him was effected and what part would be the same way regardless of his service.  

Both of them hold special places in my heart and I love them very much.

I salute all of our veterans for their sacrifices! Today, I especially salute those who went to Vietnam and left a part of themselves over there...

Molly's Miles 5K-

We ran a 5K on Saturday.  It was a great time!  Here's a picture.

It was a great fundraiser for the Missouri Concerns of Police Survivors and was a memorial for fallen Columbia, MO police officer, Molly Bowden.  Over $26,000 was raised and over 800 runners signed up.  What a large group!  And this was the first year for this event.  Success!

I felt like a turtle, but managed to rank 8th in my age division.  For once it pays to be 50!  I ran it in 36.12.  I did walk a small bit up one particularly long hill.  I can't say large hill but it seemed to last forever and took the wind out of my sails.  Of course, I did notice that having walkers beside me really undermined my ability to keep running.  I found myself thinking, "if I could just walk like they are!"  The next thing I knew, I was walking too!  Ugh!  Not good and a notable observation and reminder that running is really so much in the mind!

The run was a little tougher than I expected.  I expected a flat run and there were quite a few slight hills.  I felt like I ran uphill almost the whole time LOL and only remember running downhill twice.

Rebecca, Justin, and I loved it.  We had a wonderful time at the run. We went for pancakes after and really had a nice morning.  The remainder of the weekend wasn't so great but the run on Saturday morning was so fun and for that I am thankful.  So happy to have participated and to have a chance to remember those who protect us and sacrifice so much.

Looking forward to signing up for more 5K's this summer. They inspire me, keep me running, and are really great fun!  

This run made three for the week, so that was a good also.

Tonight, I'm running AFTER work.  Let's hope I hold to it.  


HAPPY RUNNING, OLD (& YOUNG) SOULS/SOLES!

Gina

"Turkey Trot" tough!

I ran the "Turkey Trot" route in our town last night!  Whew!  It is tough!

Having slept hardly none the night before, I couldn't drag myself out of bed at 4:50am to go for my morning YMCA run - so seiked myself up while at work - to go when I got home.

My second favorite run in our town is infamously known (to me) as the "Turkey Trot Route".  It is the route the Y uses for it's Thanksgiving morning 5K.  It is a route with steep hills but beautiful views, of old, downtown neighborhoods and the Big Muddy (Missouri River).

I wasn't sure how I would do since I hadn't had a great lunch (hot dog and piece of bread) and had worked a long, busy day in the legal department, but I was bound and determined to go.

We watched the chihuahuas run a little after getting home and I then quickly changed out of the law firm attire and into some running gear.  Thankfully, I grabbed a windbreaker on my way out the door since it was 58 degrees!

The run was great!  Here is a view of the river as this little part of the Katy Trail runs right along side it.  I love this spot since when we first moved from Florida to Missouri, it is almost exactly the spot where our house used to be!

I did fairly well, for someone who hadn't ran outside in months!  I walked the steepest incline of the biggest hill and managed to run the rest of it.  Running with the cool breeze in my face along with Adelle and Amy Winehouse singing in my ear made it quite a way to relax after work.  Ahhh!

So glad I stuck to it and got this run it.  This made my second run of the week.  Saturday, I am participating in a memorial 5K, so will update after that run is finished and I have some good pics to post!

Happy running!

Gina

In the bag! Three runs completed this week!

So glad to say I finished this week with three runs completed!

A long winter of sporadic running has left me soft and out-of-shape!  Ugh!  But that should be easy to fix, hopefully!  Running seems to be the fix-all for me.  I trim up, feel hungrier, enjoy food more, and have an overall happier outlook on life when I’m running.  At 50, I feel so lucky to be able to run.  My fear is that if I quit for too long, I’ll never be able to run again.  So, I have to stay motivated.  Even, if I feel like the only old, slow girl out there, I can run.  Well, what I do is a slow jog, but it works for me!

My weekly goal for running:  3.0 miles, three times a week, without stopping.

This week, I can proudly say I got in three runs.  Monday and Wednesday I ran 2.0 without stopping, and then walked a lap, ran a lap, to finish at 3.0 miles.  Today, Friday, I ran the whole thing, 3 miles.  Also, I ran it at a good pace and not the slow plodding run that takes FOREVER!  I feel great knowing I completed this week with three successful runs.  I am not overly sore and my hip feels good.  Lots of stretching before and after, balancing on one leg, really stretching to touch the floor. 

I try to eat meat free for breakfasts and lunches and several suppers each week.  This week, I made my own bread, a loaf of honey, oat, wheat.  Breakfasts mostly were this homemade bread, toasted with honey.  That, and the terrific coffee a guy at work makes, which I love!

I’m still running inside.  The weather is horrible in Missouri most of the time (to me).  I gravitate to the treadmill, with my YMCA “friends” where we smile, sweat, and chug along.  No fancy running gear or centerfold bodies at 5am… well, for the most part.  I very much enjoyed my running music today by Amy Winehouse, Adelle, Sarah McLachlan.  Finished with a little John Denver.  Ahhh..

Confession:  I have to resist the urge to count when I’m running.  Need to focus more on the music and less on the counting LOL.

Running gives me a great start to the day.  I ran, showered, got dressed for work.  Made the bed, prepped breakfast and lunch for my bag, loved on my chihuahuas, and managed to crochet the trim on a baby sock in the car while my husband drove us to work.  Looks like a great start to the day!

I’ll take it!  Happy Friday!

This is "Rosie".  She doesn't know why her mama is up so early putting on running shoes!

My mother would freak out if she saw that I was up this early.  She is retired and would never consider getting up before 7AM.

 Yes, I need new shoes.  But, I'm ready to go!  Doing this!

All done!  6AM and it's still dark.  Ugh!!

Have a great weekend!

Gina

I Get to Run - What I love and sometimes hate - about running.

Daily Log:

Monday, March 29, 2017 - 3.25 miles

Lately I have been sporadic at best at my running. Yet, I love to run. 

The things I need to remember that I love about running: 

• I love the challenge to run and to keep running even though my brain says “Last step – just stop!” 
• I love the total feeling of mind over matter when I get finished. 
• I love total miles completed at the end of a week. 
• I love the way my body feels when it’s fit. 
• I love not having jiggly legs! 
• I love running to my favorite music, like John Denver, the Bee Gees, or Bread. 
• I love that running makes me hungry. I love guilt free chocolate milk and peanut butter toast! 
• I love the happy mood that settles in my soul for many hours after I run. 
• I love the YMCA and the treadmills there. (Am I weird or what?) 
• I love the little man who wears a “World War II Vet” hat and a shirt that says, “Each day is a Bonus!” He must surely be 90 years old and yet he marches on that treadmill at a stiff pace for miles and miles at 5AM most every morning. He motivates me every morning I walk in the door of the YMCA. He must never miss a day! 
• I love that my friend Mr. Wessing asks about me when I’m not there. 
• I love the friends I have there who I may not know by name, but who offer me a smile and a wish of a good day when I leave. (They offer me more motivation than any mirror could ever offer.) 
• I love running the Katy Trail. 

The things I don’t love about running: 

• I don’t love leaving my warm nest of a bed and my sweetie to go run in the dark. 
• Time changes kill me. I hate the time changes! 
• Sickness sets me back too far, mostly because I’m not consisting enough in my running. My body struggles to hang on, and yet I will keep running. 
• I don’t love that I look like a wet dog when I get finished. Hate those beautiful runners LOL!
• I don’t love that running shoes are so expensive. 
• I don’t love when my running shorts ride up and my legs rub together. 
• I don’t love that I don’t feel safe on the Katy Trail – my favorite place to run. 
• I don’t love running when it’s cold. I hate running cold. 
• I don’t love that I’m not fast enough to run with a friend. 
• I don’t love that I can’t run and talk. Just haven’t mastered that yet! 

My body feels soft and fat and out of shape. But for now, I can still run. I need to run while I can. This gift of running can be taken from me in one quick stroke of injury or disease. 

I am starting this blog as a journal for my running. It will be a great way to remember the miles, the events I participate in, what I see when I run, and what I look like when I'm runing. I want to remember the scenery and the people I run with. 

 One day I will not be able to run. I may be too old, too sick, too busy, but today I can run. I get to wear running pants and sweat until I am unrecognizable. I get to sign up for 5K events with my child and my friends. I get to see the sun rise or set, and the Missouri River flow beneath my feet. 

I get to listen to my favorite music as I gasp for breath. Let’s see where running takes me this year. 2017. A year when I can still run…

Gina