2nd Team Meeting/Training

Today at 12:12pm

When I woke up at 6:45 this morning and looked outside, my first thought was, "Oh no." A good amount of snow fell last night, making the scheduled 8:00 am run feel somewhat more daunting. Kyle, who is re-reading a Lance Armstrong book, told me that Lance would say to instead think, "Well, this will be different."

My participation in this endurance event has inspired Kyle to train for his own event. He originally wanted to tackle the MTB 100 in Leadville, CO. This is an EXTREME mountain biking race that Lance Armstrong will be competing in as well. I am strongly encourging Kyle to perhaps train this year for the MTB 50, because, quite frankly, I want him to come back in one piece. Even the 50 mile mountain bike race through the mountains with quote, "Steep climbs, SERIOUS descents," is considered extreme! As it turns out, the MTB 100 is sold out and difficult to gain entry to, so I may get my wish after all. :)

Anyway, I want to say that my run this morning was uplifting, but it was not to be. Once I arrived at Runner's Gate in Lakeville and started running our course, I was immediately reminded that I am not in shape. No, not at all. The five inches of snow on the ground had not been plowed, and the course, according to my mentor Mark, was the kind of course even on the best days that feels like you're running uphill both ways. Simply put, it was hell. Awful, terrible, and I disliked every moment of it!

Last night, Kyle had mentioned a quote from Lance Armstrong (again, I know, but that is the book he's reading). Sir Lance said, "Pain is temporary, but quitting is forever." That stayed with me as I trudged the three miles through ridiculous amounts of snow. Frankly, it made me feel worse, because I had to walk half of that darn course. Not even the lure of our after-run 30% off at Runner's Gate could propel me any faster.

Believe me, even walking through that disaster was a workout. I haven't felt sore from any of the working out I've done, but today I already feel the effects of that run. I welcome the soreness as a reminder that I need to WORK HARD to achieve my goal of running this half marathon. What Wednesday's run gave me was the sense that I can do this, but today's run reminded me that I've still got a lot of work to do.

Yes, the pain was temporary. I did manage to make it back to the store without hailing a taxi-cab, and I did manage to purchase identical shoes to the ones I had just purchased on Tuesday to replace my doggie-damaged ones - this time at 30% off. Thanks Runner's Gate!

To donate to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, please go to my website at:http://pages.teamintraining.org/mn/rnr09/maleej