I
completed my 1st half marathon in February of this year (2014) and
absolutely loved the experience. I ran
the Cowtown Half in Fort Worth, TX and it was much different than running the
typical 5K or 10K runs. I’m not sure if
it was the plethora of experienced runners or if it was just the atmosphere of
the Cowtown itself, but the runners all seemed to be courteous and happy.
Every
5K, 10K, and 15K I have ran (I am not exaggerating on EVERY), I have experienced
some runner who pays no mind to other runners around them and they turn and
spit as you run right into the path or that special runner who zig zags between
every opening paying no attention to who may be coming up right beside them, as
if they are the only person trying to squeeze by. I just want to shout , “Dude
you are not the only person running this course!” Anyway, I could go on forever with
other little peeves, but that is another blog entirely.
The
Cowtown Half Marathon sparked my interest to push myself harder and go all the
way, so I have kinda been training for the Route 66 Marathon in Oklahoma this November. “I’m running to the Center of
the Universe, Damn it!”
I
carry a pretty busy workload. I am
currently a full time employee with a dream of being my own full time boss (soon,
very soon), I am a full time mom of 2 boys (17 and 8), a full time wife (my 3rd
child, shhh, don’t tell him I said that), I’m a part time business owner
running SWEATS Boot Camp 5 Days a week, a Group Fitness instructor at a local
gym twice a week, and a Make-up Presenter for Younique Cosmetics. So with that
said, I have to plan my workouts for the week in advance in order to get the
workouts and marathon training in that I need.
Yesterday
was my scheduled ‘long’ morning run. One of only 2 mornings I have scheduled
that I can get my longer runs in during the week, because the temperature is
cooler. So, of course I wake up early, and go through my whole morning routine
in order to get ready for a run. GPS (Nike Plus) - check, Sweatband – check, Bathroom
Break – check, Light Warm-up – check, and no time for coffee so off I go.
Begin
Rant: So I hit the 2 mile mark and I’m feeling good right, enjoying the nice
cool morning sunrise when all of a sudden, BAM that instant gut wrenching
feeling of mother nature! Oh yes, it was not just a drain your lizard kind of
feeling (not that I have a lizard to drain, but you feel me right). It was the ‘OH
CRAP’ kinda feeling that stops you right in your tracks and says, “Oh Crap, I
hope you can make it!” Only I swear mother nature says a few not so nice words
as she is laughing away singing, “Ha, Ha not today Homie you’re walking home!” So
a few deep breaths and away I go making it only 4 steps before stopping again with
the understanding that I really would be walking the rest of the way home. Where is a port-a-potty when you need one?
After
making it home feeling defeated by mother nature. I sat back with my cup of
coffee frustrated that there is never enough time in the day to do everything I
want. I pondered as to why mother nature couldn’t strike on a 1 mile quick run
after body pump class when I did not really want to run in the 1st
place. Why couldn’t it be on a Sunday when I have time to go back out after
using the rest room. I didn’t even have coffee before my run, dang it! Ugh, why does using the restroom have to be so
inconvenient. TMI…..yes I know, but this
is for the crazy runner out there who has been there and knows the feeling of
mother natures inconvenient timing. I
love mother nature but she sure can be a pain in the….