Friday Eve - Rest Day Post

 Two Part Post - 1: Motivation 2: Stuff
1.
Are you someone that always tries to motivate people, encourage them, tell them they are doing awesome, but don't give yourself the same pat on the back? Most of us huh. Well this post is about us.
This is feeling proud about yourself, myself, we are pretty great.

(Except you, yeah I see the Nutella smear on your face and you haven't brushed your teeth yet today, you aren't that great)

The thought started crossing in my head as I chatted with a coworker who signed up for her first half marathon. She started the early phases of, what the hell did I just do, but I can't back out now. She got a legit plan set out from one of her runner friends beforehand and isn't backing down. I added what extra value I could and try to encourage her whenever we talk running, reminding her the dedication to training is what makes those motivational videos and posters we all wish we were in. News flash, we are those posters.

I forced myself to take a look at my own training. About 6 weeks into the Hanson Plan. Plenty of days where I feel like I'm not doing enough. That I set my goals too high. That I should lower my expectations for my first race. You know the downward spiral. But then that day I pretended it wasn't me I was looking at.

You know those videos of people running in the dark, running 10 miles Friday, to wake up just as early on the weekend to knock out god knows how many more. The people that can tell you about running at -10 degrees or 90 degrees. That is me I'm looking at. What values to you honor in other people? I bet you have them yourself, but don't like to admit it.

The speech in this video has been around for awhile, but as I love the Bulls, I'm giving you it as a backdrop to a Bull's video. 

“Here’s the thing that makes life so interesting. The theory of evolution claims that “only the strong shall survive”. Maybe so, maybe so.

But the theory of competition says, “just because they’re the strong doesn’t mean they can’t get their asses kicked”.

That’s right. See, what every long shot, come from behind, underdog will tell ya is this: the other guy may in fact be the favorite, the odds may be stacked against you. Fair enough. But what the odds don’t know is, this isn’t a math test. This is a completely different kind of test. One where passion, has a funny way of trumping logic.

So before you step up to the starting line, before the whistle blows, and the clocks start ticking just remember: out here the results don’t always add up. No matter what the stats may say and the experts may think and the commentators may have predicted, when the race is on, all bets are off.

Don’t be surprised be if someone decides to flip the script and take a pass on yelling “Uncle”. And then suddenly as the old saying goes, “WE’VE GOT OURSELVES A GAME”.

So you know what? Game on. I'm going to keep dreaming big and so should you. You inspire me.

-
Annnd Stuff:

Got my new sneakers in! Same ones I have now, just different color (New Balance M890v3)

If you see these bad boys on the path, it is probably me and I expect a side five.

And my foam roller is still getting use:





For people dealing with gnats while running:

And some photos from the Rock and Roll Half Marathon:

Okay, that's enough for one day. Have a great day