If you think you can...your right...if you think you can't...you are probably still right...

I don't think you can become an outstanding runner unless you get a certain amount of enjoyment out of the suffering. You have to enjoy absorbing it, controlling it and—ultimately—overcoming it.

Derek Clayton in The Masters of the Marathon

Normally I end my blog with a quote...some tid bit of inspiration that sort of links the whole thing together...a way for people to maybe retain what I blabbed on and on about for 5 or 6 paragraphs...today...I think the above quote is worthy of its own blog...cause I am pretty sure I have never read anything more true. 

One of my links to all things running...is my Facebook page where I have carefully "liked" certain motivational pages...one being Runners World.  When I updated my page yesterday and I saw this quote pop up...I can't explain my excitement...I even sent it to a few people who I thought would appreciate it and posted it as my status...it’s totally true!

I wake up almost every day at 5:30 am...hard in and of itself...but then I unconsciously put on my shorts, sports bra, and lace up my shoes...to hop on the treadmill or hit the streets...and punish myself for an hour if not more!  But oddly somewhere during mile 1 that punishment turns into pleasure...something that I know I would have regretted living without had I not got up and out of bed!  Sometimes I even do something crazier...I go to work...and then I come home and I run again...I just can't get enough!

Lately I do have to say...I have been considering just where I am planning on taking this rekindled love I have of running.  Do I really want to hop back on a regular racing circuit...is this just a hobby...is it time to share this love with others and become a cross coach...I am just not sure...but I do think it’s become more then a hobby...I feel like it’s something I want to nurture...and share...and embed into my life...and heck into the lives of anyone that wants’ to do it with me! 

I think what I love most is the accomplishment I feel after every single run...because each time I get further along...or I do it faster...or I find something new about myself that I never knew.  I think if your not a runner its hard to understand why people do it and for sure why they do it and love it...and that's fair...as the quote above states...you really have to get a certain amount of enjoyment out of the suffering...but I find the feeling you get from overcoming it is well worth the effort. 

Running is a time consuming activity especially as you build your mileage...alot goes into going out to run 12 or 13 miles or more...you do have to eat right...and drink water...and stretch...and get pleanty of rest...and right now these are all things that I am willing to do...I have found something that I am passionate about that I want to grow and develop...and I feel that I am lucky because we don't always have the opportunity to find something we really really love to do!

Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness,heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of; the hell with sugar and spice!

Well...sometimes life gives you lemons...and you have the choice to settle and make some lemonaid or get a little creative...and make something all your own! Over the last five weeks I have been MIA on the blog site...and sadly MIA from running!

It all started with some pain...I really didn't think anything of it...I just thought my foot was a little sore...but then it got worse!

I thought if I just took a tiny break...it would get better...and it did...right before it got worse!

After a trip to the orthopedic surgeon...I was sidelined...for 5 weeks...with hopes that it was tendinitis in my ankle...and not a tear.

At this point I had a choice...mope around at the thought of being unable to run...or find something else to do...enter some serious swimming here!

So to the pool I went everyday...I had to...I was trying to hold tight to the training I had built up with hopes that I would be able to run the half marathon still...as sadly I had to already give-up the full marathon.

Funny thing about that swimming...it will absolutely kick your ass! I thought I was strong...because I could go out and run 10 miles...little did I know that was nothing compared to fly, back, breast and free!

3 weeks of this and I felt stronger then ever...but the pain and swelling in my ankle was still there...so back to the doctor...for an MRI...my fingers were crossed...that there would be no tear. As the days passed and I waited for the results...the swelling eased up...and the pain to! By the time I got back to the doctor for the results a week later I was almost pain free...and..there was no tear! As well...I was given the ok to run! So on Monday March 7th...after 5 long weeks...I burst out of work threw my shoes on...and went for the best run ever!

Now I slowly have to ease back into it...and over these last few weeks...I have found a new love also...swimming...that I want to keep in my life...but wow...it was great to tie those shoes back up!

Sadly...I must admit I won't be able to run the full or the half Flying Pig...as I won't be able to get back into that kind of shape in time...but I have accepted that and have decided that I may be able to try my hand at the 10K the day before.

Sometimes life gives you lemons...and it's up to you to figure out what you are going to do with them!


“If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again.”