Two more miles, two more reasons

There were two more miles on last night's schedule and instead of focusing on why I didn't want to change into my running clothes and get out there (which can be attributed to laziness by the way), I once again tried to focus on two more reasons why I wanted to run.  Here they are.

1. I ran because I had no real reason not to.  Because, really, "I don't want to" isn't a good excuse when it comes to training.  Of course I want to, or I wouldn't have signed up to do the race in the first place.
2. I ran for how good it makes me feel...especially when I'm done.  During my run, I was fighting the urge to give in to a side stitch, but didn't, because I knew that I would hate myself if I succumbed to the urge to stop and walk.  When I finished, and I felt the sweat pouring down my face, arms and hands (yes, hands!), I knew I gave it everything I could for those two short miles.  There was no second guessing because there was no stopping.

These two miles were two more miles that I put between myself and my tendency to self sabotage and second guess.  For me, running is still as much a mental sport as it is a physical sport, but I think that this latest endeavor finally has me on the right track.

Stats:
Distance:  2 miles
Avg. Pace:  12'53"/mile
Total time:  25:48
Calories:  276

Two miles, two reasons

During last night's run, I tried to focus on the positive instead of psyching myself out. Since I was running two miles, I tried to think of two reasons why I was running that night.

1. I ran because so many people can't.  I am lucky enough to have no physical reason why I can't get out there and hit the trail.  I've silenced my excuses as best I can, so that the only barrier left for me is my mind.  I did my best to silence that with an eclectic mix of Fergie, The Offspring and Lady Gaga as my soundtrack last night.
2. I ran because I wanted to.  There was no one forcing me to get out there and do it.  Sure, I'll say that I don't want to do it and complain for most of the time, but at the end of the day, there wasnn't anyone holding a gun to my head, telling me to get it done.  I did it for me.  And also for the Nike+ voice that told me that I accomplished two miles and also ran my fastest mile since before 1/2 marathon training last year.  

I think that my Nike+ "voice" needs a name.  He is a male and sounds D. West from Maury Povich - the one who wore sweater vests without anything underneath and would come on the show and drag unruly teenagers off to boot camp.  What shall I call him?

Stats:
Distance:  2 miles
Avg. pace:  12'51"/mile
Time:  25:49
Calories:  278

A new relationship with running

If you were to compare my relationship with the sport of running to a relationship where I'm the girl and running is the boy, the story would go something like this:

1. Girl meets boy in a bar, when she wasn't really looking to meet that special someone
2. Girl falls madly in love with boy, then hates him, then loves him, then loves to hate him and then loves him again (even though she still kind of hates him)
3. Girl and boy hang out EVERY SINGLE DAY, listening to music and sweating profusely {{wink wink}}
4. Girl and boy take their relationship to the next level
5. Girl gets home from Vegas and stops returning the calls and texts from the boy
6. Boy keeps calling and texting, but girl refuses to budge
7. Girl feels guilty and calls the boy back after about 3 months
8. Repeat @2-6
9. Girl then half heartedly dates boy off and on for months
10. Girl feels guilty for her bad behavior
11. Girl gives boy another chance, but on the condition that they "take things slowly"

So here I am, starting at #11, trying to find my new relationship with running. Previously, as you can see by my crazy example, I was in somewhat of an abusive relationship with the sport, binging on half-marathon training and then quitting cold turkey, starting again and then quitting....again.

The reason I like running is that it provides THE best cardio workout for me.  Running brings my heart rate up higher than the elliptical and the bike (except for spinning class).  Running is the workout that challenges my mind and my body.  Running makes me sweat, which tells me that my body is working.  As part of this new relationship, I need to learn to accept and embrace that challenge rather than running away from it (pun intended) and self sabotaging.

In order to shift my thinking and to invite running to become a more permanent fixture in my life, I've decided to train for the Emerald City 1/4 marathon.  I've chosen to do a 1/4 marathon instead of a 1/2 because I need the accountability of a schedule and a checklist of miles.  I know myself and know that I can't be trusted to just open my arms and welcome the sport back to my life.  I need to take the journey of "I think I can" on my way to "I know I can" by doing the shorter weekday runs to let the process happen naturally.  My short term goal is to complete the 1/4 marathon without walking, but my ultimate goal is to develop a long-term relationship with this sport, a healthy one, the kind that I don't have to start over every three months.

Underbite

See that little hint of an underbite?  According to his vet, it confirms the DNA "diagnosis" that this giant, shedding, water-loving mutt is part Chihuahua.  Who knew?

I am the Furminator

I don't know what it is about the Furminator, but it makes me happy (Chino, not so much).  Maybe its because I'm a results oriented person?  Or maybe I'm just lazy and would rather deal with dog hair, straight from the source, rather than having it blowing all over the floor like yellow, fuzzy tumbleweeds.  Either way, this is truly the best dog brush on the market if you have a shedding pup.  I hear that the cat version is pretty good too, but I can't speak to that.  I wanted to recreate the Furminator ad and have Chino laying here patiently, with his fur piles all around him, but that would have taken too many treats and then I'd be dealing with diarrhea on the floor instead of tumbleweeds.

To get Chino to participate in his Furmination, requires lots of patience and treats and sometimes assistance from Nick.  However, we both know that Chino is totally playing us.  How do I know?  I tried the Furminator on my on head and it didn't hurt, which is proof that Chino is really being a drama queen.  The disclaimer under this photo should read:  No mutts were harmed during this Furmination session. The mutt pictured consumed a ridiculous amount of T-Bonz treats in exchange for his cooperation.  If you or anyone you know is a victim of a psycho dog mom, please remember to act annoyed and she'll give you extra food.

A blog about a blog

That pelican (why do I keep wanting to type penguin!?!) photo that I submitted to Canvas Pop caught the eye of one of their designers and they asked me to be their photo of the day!  I was so excited.  Check me out on their blog!!!!!  Also - check out the penguin pelican here:

Eight Fun Facts

1. If after your dog consumes a goose turd you see a tooth in his mouth that LOOKS rotten, its probably not.  Its probably just left over goose poop.  Think chocolate, but not.
2. Its easier to catch a dog with a dog.  Chino has been used as "bait" multiple times and boasts a 100% recovery rate.
3. If you light a tick on fire, it blows up.  Ok maybe blowing up is a TAD dramatic, but it definitely pops.  Like one of those white popper things that well...pops.
4. Ticks are gross.
5. Nick likes lighting things on fire - especially ticks.  See #3.
6. I think that Chino enjoys being inspected for ticks.  He'd deny it.
7. I'm the queen of bug inspection.  I point, Nick picks and then ignites.
8. Yesterday, Nick found a tick on my shirt.  I freaked out.