A Test From Above

Most of you who have run a marathon or tackled something similar know that even if you train religiously and take good care of yourself throughout the process, on race day there is always an element of luck involved that you simply can't prepare for.  Today I felt as though the running gods decided to give me a little test.  It's as if they were saying, "Ok, Rebecca, you've followed your training plan really well, but have you given the outside factors that you can't control any thought?  No?  We didn't think so.  So, today, we're going to make it a little challenging for you because you know as well as we do that the stars are not always aligned perfectly on race day and we just want you to be ready."  As I was running along today I couldn't help but picture them with their clipboards in hand; sitting me down to let me know how the run was going to play out:

"Good morning.  Getting ready for your last long run today?  Atta girl.  Unfortunately, you're teammate is not going to be able to join you today as her daughter has a stomach flu and can't make it to school.  We know you enjoy doing your long runs with her but we feel like you've gotten a little too dependent on having someone along with you to pick up your spirits when the miles start to drag.  But, not to worry, you have your music, right?  Wait, oh, what was that?  You didn't charge your iPod because you assumed you wouldn't need it?  Tsk Tsk. You know better.  Better plug it in now and wait for a little charge.  What else?  Oh, it's been a mild winter which has made your training that much more bearable so today, when you head out, it's going to be ridiculously windy and it will stay that way throughout your entire run.  It's tough, we know, but it's good for you.  Now, make sure to pay attention while you're running.  We have a feeling you might take a wrong turn at some point since you typically just follow along with your teammate and don't really look at the street signs.  That's going to be a bummer as you will most likely look up and have no idea where you are.  No doubt you'll get very annoyed when you have to back track to figure it out.  And you know that water fountain at mile twelve where you normally get a drink?  Don't count on that.  It doesn't seem to be working today.  Sorry, we really had no control over that one.  Finally, remember all those jelly beans you ate yesterday on Easter?  Well, we do.  Those are not going to sit so well with you later in your run.  All that sugar might cause some cramping.  Bet you won't let that happen again, eh?  But, hey, you're in great shape otherwise and we believe in you.  So, get out there and make it happen."

If only I had known.  But, that was their point.  It's impossible to plan for everything.  So despite the fact that I was cursing the running gods today, there was part of me that was yelling, "what else you got?"

Listen to this:
Florida - Modest Mouse  

It's Friday - Reader's Pick

Today, we're taking you back.  I'm not gonna lie, I used to dance around to both these songs; one in high school, the other in college.  I'm sure that was amusing.  They were the ideal rap/pop combo.  I'm wondering if tough-girl Kellie M., who picked today's gems, did the same.  I would have paid to see that!  Both are timeless and slightly tragic which makes them that much better.  Thanks for sharing, Kellie.

Listen to this:
Let's Talk About Sex - Salt-n-Pepa 

and (wait for it....)
Wannabe - Spice Girls

Oh, The Places You CAN Go

This morning, my daughter asked me if we could go for a run together this week-end.  "Of course," I said, "I would love to."  Out of curiosity, I asked her what she liked most about running.  She said, "when you run, you can go wherever you want."  So true.  When you run, I thought, you can not only go anywhere on the map, but you can mentally take yourself to so many different places and across so many levels.  I didn't explain this second part to her as she's only seven, but I loved using her quote as another way to explain how I feel about running.  So, then I asked her where she wanted to go with me for our run.  She smiled and said, "Dunkin Donuts?"  Umm.  Ok.  That's not really what I was thinking, but why not?  We'll be getting out there, enjoying the fresh air, moving our legs, and, most importantly, spending time together.  Is it healthy to stop mid-run and eat a munchkin?  Not really.  But all those other things are so much more important that I say, to hell with it; at least for this particular run.  I want my daughter to love running.  And eventually, I want her to realize that when she's out there on the the road she can go wherever she wants both physically and mentally.

Listen to this:
Where The Kids Are - Blondfire  

Beyond Tired

I sat down to write yesterday and within five minutes I found myself gazing out the window staring at, well, nothing.  I was pleasantly spacing out.  My teammate and I had just completed our fourth of five long runs that morning and I was hoping to get a post up before school pick-up at three.  Clearly, it didn't happen.  Throughout the day all I could really think about was how tired I was and how I was going to make it until 9:00 pm (yes, that's what time I go to bed lately).  Fortunately, this gave me something to write about, despite the fact that I couldn't muster up the energy to do it until the today.  Better late than never, right?

Top 5 Signs That I Am Beyond Tired:

1. As I was showering, I seriously considered sitting and/or lying down for just a "few minutes". I didn't, but I really wanted to.

2. I found myself excited for my my dentist appointment because it gave me a valid excuse to lie down in a ridiculously comfortable chair for thirty minutes.

3. By the time my meeting with the director of my daughters' school was over, I was curled up in a  ball in her chair with my jacket over me like a blanket.  Fortunately, she knows I'm training and didn't question this.

4. As I was walking my dog toward our usual trail, I took an unexpected turn toward Starbucks instead.  I didn't seem to have any control over this decision and I was okay with that.  My dog was confused.

5.  Each time I walked into my room, my bed looked as if it was smiling at me.  I might have said, "stop doing that"; I'm not 100% sure.

Four down, one to go.  We are finally seeing the light at the end of this very long tunnel.  Hallelujah.

Listen to this:
Pressure Zone - Beck