Motivation

Still plugging away and putting in the miles according to the schedule, in fact yesterday snuck in an unscheduled 5 mile run on what was supposed to be a 'rest' day. It actually felt like 'cheating' on the program, even though it was just a very easy-easy run with heart rate alarm set at 80%. Don't understand what gets into me at times, knowing that rest days are important but when I miss my normal rest day (on Monday usually) it's like having some bonus mileage to start the week and can't help take advantage.

All this preamble is just to get to the point of today's post which is motivation. Where does it come from for me and how can it be explained? These thoughts occupied me for a good part of my tough midweek 14 mile run today. Conditions were fairly decent for us north-easterners with +4C (35F) and light to medium winds but the temps were falling and winds increased during the run. But still pounding away for 2 hours makes you think, 'What the heck makes me do this?" and it's tough to come up with a simple answer. Started to make a list in my head: love to run, enjoy being very fit, like the weight control, like to train for events like Boston etc but it still doesn't explain the why... Could easily be running only every other day, with 1/2 the mileage, pick and choose days based on weather conditions, and still manage a decent marathon BUT then I'd be selling myself short or at least would feel that way. So, still can't explain what motivates me every day to get out the door, it just seems to happen and feel lucky that I'm able to keep doing it.

Today's run was a total of about 14 miles in just under 2hr. Started out feeling flat and heavy legs but still managed the 1st 5 into the wind in 42:00. The 2nd 5mile return leg was nice with the wind at my back in 40:30 including the little motivational conversation with myself. Finished off the run with a post-office run with a noticeable change in temperature on the return home into the wind again.

Nice to stop and will spend the rest of the day, relaxing, blogging and planning for the new year. All those running and other resolutions to make, or not! Read a good post the other day about 'resolving to stop' to do things that are not important or distracting to your various life/work/running goals. Makes you think ;-)