Run in the rain

When one commits to training for anything whether it be a child rearing, bachelors degree, triathlon, marathon, weight loss, weight gain (yes there are people out there that train for that), 5k, or even finishing a book. They almost immediately come up against barriers to staying true to that training.  I am currently training for a 1/2 marathon the training schedule looks like this

Week	Monday	Wednesday	Thursday	Saturday
1	1.5	2	1.5	2.5
2	1.5	2	1.5	3
3	1.5	2	1.5	3.5
4	1.5	2.5	1.5	4
5	1.5	2.5	1.5	5
6	2	2.5	2	5.5
7	2	3	2	6
8	2	3	2	7
9	2	3.5	2	8
10	2	4	2	8
11	2.5	4	2.5	8
12	2.5	4	2.5	9
13	2.5	4	2.5	10
14	2.5	4	2.5	4.5
15	1.5	2.5	1.5	4
16	1.5	1.5	walk 1.5	1/2 Marathon

I am currently on week 3 which meant today I needed to run 2 miles.  The top picture is what it looked like today yep rain. I woke up with the best intentions only to find it so foggy that it wouldn't be safe to run so I went back to bed for an hour. Then I had decisions to make. My decision making process looks something like this.
"I am in week 3 so yes I am committed to this training  and I don't want to start all over again.
I will have to run 2 miles sometime today.
I could run on the treadmill, or outside.
I prefer outside.
OK I need to do it before Maggie gets home from preschool, but I am going Visiting Teaching at 8:30am and Maggie gets home at 11am mmmm.....
I could ask for help.
oh that is hard but so is starting the training all over again........
Just pick up the phone... just pick up the phone... just pick up the phone.
OK got some help my darling sister in law will pick me up on the way home from preschool with Maggie.
Now I just need to get out the door.
Oh great it is raining."

Here I will stop and let you out of my mind because too much time spent in there can be dangerous.
There are many wonderful things about  running in the rain.
1. You feel hard core. "Yep I am running in the rain."
2. You tend to take your steps to the tune "Running in the rain just running in the rain..."
3. You feel clean even though you aren't.
4. You are happy.
5. When you are finished you get double endorphins one because you ran 2 miles and two because it is DONE and you get a check mark.

The great thing training has taught me is this saying"Oh Hello (put in obstacle or barrier here IE rain, hill, sore knee, kids) come and run with me today."

In case you were wondering I did it more apples this week just not as many as I would have liked.
xoxo
Barb

I bought an apple...

So I was picking up a few things for my darling husband, and it was past dinner time, I hadn't eaten, the children had been home by themselves for a few hours, and so I knew that the situation at home was not going to be a pleasant one. I circled the store a few times looking for some relief the M&M's were calling me telling me "here is an escape, here is what you can use to get you through the next step, don't worry were here, it's okay it will just be this time, just buy a small bag."  Thank the heavens for the last loop of the store I was able to picture what eating the M&M's would feel like and it isn't what I wanted. I didn't want to need something to get me through, I wanted to be okay on my own. I didn't want to feel guilt of eating something that was lying to me. Yes M&M's lie. They say all those things but they really don't give me any of them instead they give me tighter jeans, and I don't want tighter jeans I want looser jeans. But the reality is I was hungry so I bought an apple not a bag but one Red Delicious  apple and ate it on the way home. It was so juicy, good and filling. I walked into my house feeling full, happy, confident, and prepared.

Today in group (yes I am still going to group) I decided to tell this story. I remember at the start of my weight loss journey celebrating every little success and I mean EVERY one. I have stopped doing that I have been wadding and focusing so much on my failure that there seemed to be no success.  So I can commit to writing to you my small success when they come, and you will in turn patiently wait for them because you and I both know that they are coming.

I have a friend that had completed her morning workout and was lying on the bench she hadn't eaten breakfast yet. She put her stomach and felt how empty it was and it felt good. When you have an eating problem so much of it is because you want to feel full. Full of ___________ (love, appreciation fulfilment, excitement and even sadness sometimes.)  But as she talked about this is experience I was in a state of wonder and excitement over the thought of feeling empty and with the being empty the anticipation of what Heavenly Father could fill it with.  All of sudden I wanted to be empty so I could be filled with God's love.
xoxo
Barb