running some of the trails, writing some of the words
On realizing my potential: I don't know what I'm capable of and I want to find out. I, like so many others, have wasted many years waiting until the conditions were right to do things, and they never are. The time to start is now, whatever that looks like. So, I decided to work with a coach.
I'm not ready because I wore my body down little by little with every race after which I did not allow space for recovery. I'm not ready because I refused to miss an opportunity to take advantage of the warm, beautiful weather. I'm not ready because I never go to bed early enough for the 3:30 am wake up calls, and the sleep deprivation is compounding. I am not ready because I am depleted. Every run seems to feel more fatigued than the last, to the detriment of my attitude, my enjoyment and the quality of my company for those I run with. I am tired of feeling slow and weak. I am tired of tripping and falling on the trail. The only way to correct these things is not to push harder, but to pull back.
...the goal has been achieved and no matter where you sit, some pointy rock edge is jamming you in the ass - it gets cold and windy and chances are a storm will roll in before too long. Before the journey down the mountain is even over, you find yourself already craving another and reminiscing about the journey up, almost wishing you were still headed in that direction.
Right around mile 22 is when things started to go south. I was grinding up a hill, seemingly on the path to Mordor based on the heat and the terrain, when I encountered a hiker. Two runners who kept passing me, sitting to rest until I passed them, only to pass me again, were coming up to pass me for perhaps the 37th time.
Self-worth, for those of us not innately blessed with it, has to be and more importantly, can be earned.
I started reflecting on my journey and would like to offer some recommendations based on what I would do differently and what I got right - but mostly on what I do now after getting it wrong. It's not that tactical, but I promise you, it's just as important. You'll figure out the tactical stuff as you go along.
Did you know that there are approximately 40 calendars that exist in the world and 11 that are widely used today?!? I didn't, until I just googled it. I did know, however, that our Gregorian new year is not the one and only new year celebrated around the world. Regardless of how arbitrary January 1… Continue reading #goals
trail kat 