5:00 am came early this morning, but I told myself to think of this song when the alarm went off:
Tuff Enuff
After reading Bob's post about having a less than stellar week, and having my own, I reminded myself of this song. I added it to my iPod Marathon Mix that summer I was recovering from radiation therapy and training to run a marathon when I hadn't even run for over 20 years. Every time it came on I was reminded that this ain't all that tough. It's just running. I can slow down if I get tired. I can take a couple of days off. I can run a long way at a slow pace, or I can go to the track and run a few hard laps with rest in between.
I can run.
And there's a ton of ways to do that, so it's not that tough to do.
Everybody has faced something ridiculously hard in life. Most of us have seen more than a few very difficult times. But we're still here, still living, and now spending a couple of minutes reading a goofy blog about running, horking and sitting in tubs filled with ice water. Makes you smile, doesn't it? Life's not bad at all, and running isn't all that tough when you compare to things you've all ready been through.
Now getting up to run can certainly feel tough, and we all need a little extra motivation now and again. Especially, when we know we're going to be running through spider webs, dodging horseflies, and avoiding bears. Me? I'm mainly concerned with not stepping on pine cones in the dark. Whatever it is we fear, that first step out of bed is the toughest.
So remember that and tell yourself before you go to bed that you're just going to put both feet on the floor after the alarm goes off. Just two feet on the floor. When you accomplish that remind yourself you just took the two toughest steps you'll face in the morning's run.
And then think about that awesome guitar lick, the most laid back bass player ever, and those hot 80's girls dancing in daisy dukes, plaid shirts and hard hats. Directorial genius!
One more time with the volume up: Tuff Enuff
10 miles this morning in 1:29:00. Hot and humid and great tunes.
Yep. You get to a point in your life that your realize this stuff isn't that hard. Not like life, life can be a bitch. Being able to go out and run, whatever the speed or distance, is a blessing. Some people push themselves a bit harder than others, but it is just running. Waking up, getting out and living life is what it is all about. I remember my first half marathon four years ago. At about mile 7 I was struggling. I wanted to quit. Then I thought of my sister, Cathy, who has MS and is mostly confined to a wheelchair and every day is a struggle.She deals with it mostly with a smile on her face. I basically told myself to shut the hell up and run. There are people out there in real pain. This is just running, as important as is may be.
ReplyDeleteInspiring! Really gave me something to think about... Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteOr as good ole Santa Clause put it ...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OORsz2d1H7s
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