Monday, May 16, 2011

I hear little voices

First off, my apologizes for being MIA this past week. I tried to get on Friday morning for my weekly Race Salute only to find Blogger down for maintenance.  :(   However, I did send out positive mental vibes to all the racers last weekend (did you feel it?!), especially my Blonde Ponytail pal and the gals running Green Bay (Jen and Rachel)!

Help!  The little voices in my head returned...

Voice #1 won.  After two busy weekends, I was so behind on the work front.  I literally ran only ONCE in a 10 day stretch (and that was a 5k race!).



Then the temperatures soared last week, giving me the perfect excuse for not running.  (The AC in our house also broke, giving us a $1100 repair bill... Ouch!)  The devil won for two days... and then I was pulled out by an evening run with my Building Steam training group.  The next day, I had the kids in the stroller for a run before 8am.  And finally on Friday, I found my groove, getting out & back before 6am.  On Sunday, I rolled out of bed to meet for a 6am group run.  Today I hit the pavement at exactly 5:20am.  I think I got this one.

I mentioned in an earlier blog that I took on the local race director role for the upcoming Peoria Half Marathon (come run my town!!).  Lots to get done in the early stages. Lots of local excitement, questions and doubt.  O'dear, am I up to this?!  Jury still out.

Training for the Quad Cities Marathon starts in three weeks, and I really need to trim some pounds to make that training easier on my body... and I run faster when I weigh less.  I've tackled this battle pretty well this year, but the last month has been a battle of wills.  I've got to get myself focused.



A scene from Top Gun keeps entering my head... Maverick (Tom Cruise) is about to enter into a dogfight, but he's hesitating due to fear and self-doubt.  A voice over the radio keeps yelling at him...
"Engage, Maverick, Engage!"
For a while he stares out into nowhere, ignoring the repetition.

"Engage, Maverick, Engage!"
And then... he re-engages and kicks ass.

I may have been slacking the last couple weeks, but watch out... 
I'm about to re-engage!


Do you ever get in running ruts?  How do you pull yourself out?

17 comments:

  1. JessicaMay 16, 2011 at 9:06 AM

    Love your little devil and angel :)

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  2. fancy nancyMay 16, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    Love it! I absolutely get into ruts. I fight it at first to see if I am just in a funk and it will go away. Then if it sticks around I tell myself I can have 3 days off but then it's back with no whining. It tends to work. Many times my body has to shout and scream for me to listen. Once I rest a bit, it is much happier with me and the beatings it gets!

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  3. Amanda@runninghoodMay 16, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    Love this! So funny. Absolutely! The last couple weeks were really hard mentally and physically. I listen to my body! :) Give it what it needs and I usually benefit from this. :)

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  4. runs with boxersMay 16, 2011 at 10:41 AM

    This is freakin hilarious!! The angel/devil, the Top Gun references....love it! Good job with all of the running! I think you'll do great being the local race director, and how fun to be involved from the get-go!
    I don't think I've been running long enough to get into a rut (other than being sick and unable to run for 3 weeks earlier this year) and I hope to keep it that way!

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  5. RunFitMamaMay 16, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    Yes, I get in running ruts. I try to just wait it out, and supplement running with another form of cardio activity, like biking or even just going for walks. I usually find if I just go with the flow I will get over it.

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  6. Vanessa @ Gourmet RunnerMay 16, 2011 at 12:37 PM

    Yes, I get in a rut with running. Once I take a few days off in a row mentally it's tough for me to get back into it. Sometimes I switch it up and do something else, other times I tell myself to go and run for one mile. Usually, I feel so good for that mile that I keep going.
    :)

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  7. PennyMay 16, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    Yes, I get in a rut every year. You would think I would know how to handle them but I dont. I bitch and complain that I'm in a rut. Than the nice weather comes and I start to come out of it. It's ok to take a break. Than when you start to hit the pavement again you will realize how much you missed it.

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  8. ElleMay 16, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    This post was so entertaining... and thought provoking. Love your visuals.

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  9. SamanthaMay 16, 2011 at 4:57 PM

    I’m in a running rut right now! UGH!

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  10. AnonymousMay 16, 2011 at 5:48 PM

    Lol, I've been in a running rut for a few days. And love your little devil/angel dudes!

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  11. LisasFitLifeMay 16, 2011 at 7:40 PM

    To get out of a fitness rut I read magazines, blogs and watch Spirit of the marathon. Love that movie!

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  12. Jess @ Blonde PonytailMay 16, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    Aww Jess!! The vibes helped get me to the finish line!! I'm so sorry you have runners rut but we all sure go through it! Your amazing support crew will get u thru!!! We love you!!

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  13. QueenieMay 16, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    Focusing on my next race is motivation for me in my training. Good luck with the whole race director bit. I'm sure it'll be a great race - I'm thinking about doing it. Also, you'll love the QC Marathon...I'm positive!

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  14. RichelleMay 16, 2011 at 10:17 PM

    Love the devil and angel over your shoulders. !

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  15. RachelMay 17, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    I totally felt your mental vibes on Sunday. Thanks!!!!!

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  16. The Boring RunnerMay 19, 2011 at 7:53 PM

    What does it mean if both the angel and devil are telling me to burn things?

    So jealous of the quad cities marathon! If I remember right, Laura at 50by25 ran that as part of her 50 states goal. I'm certain she has a race report! (hopefully it isn't TOO hilly of a race, is it???)

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  17. KevinMay 23, 2011 at 6:58 AM

    I love the Top Gun reference. It made me laugh.

    Kevin
    HalfTRIing.blogspot.com

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