run

My Groove

| Marie Griffith

Since the move to my new town I’ve lost my running groove. I can’t find the place I want to run…..or like to run. There’s more traffic so I’ve not explored much. My daughter and I crossed the highway Saturday and found a small neighborhood there.

But it’s not my country roads. I think I didn’t know how much I liked the country and the roads there and the quiet there. I didn’t mind running in the dark sometimes because I knew the roads. I knew the people in the houses and dogs in their yards. I didn’t mind the one car or old truck that drove slowly past while I was running.

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My country road

My husband told me last night that I may have to do what I don’t want to do. He reminded me that there are parks and high school tracks in town. And I reminded him that I don’t want to get in my car and drive somewhere to run. I want to step out of my front door and run.

So today I stepped out of my front door and ran. Two miles up and down the dead-end road I live on now. Back and forth….to the highway…..then down to the neighbors……again and again. I ran last week
too, but shorter distances because….well……it got old. This is what the route looks like on my Runkeeper app.

But guimageess what? It was a great run this morning. So I go back and forth on the same road. I’ll get used to the burly boxer barking at me from his back yard and the two little dogs in their fence. I’ll get used to the highway traffic. Maybe I’ll start waving to the traffic as I turn around to run back down to the neighbors. Then wave again when I come back to the highway and again and again. And maybe I’ll cross the highway and run in that neighborhood soon.

All I know, is that I want to run. So I’m gonna run.

And I’ll get my groove back.

 

“The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It’s your mind you have to convince.”                              Vince Lombardi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rising

Image | | Marie Griffith

I’ve always loved morning time. It’s my time…….mostly.

Recently I started running in the mornings. I begin when it’s dark but by the time I’m finished the sun is peeking over the edge of the small hills on my country road.

A sunrise is another beginning. Another chance. Another day to love and laugh and cry. Another day to live like it matters.

A sunrise could be the start of a brand new way of living. It brings a whole bunch of new opportunities. It could bring laughter and joy and forgiveness. And healing and compassion.

A sunrise is hope rising and light shining into our darkest seasons.

Since I’ve begun this new thing I’ve seen more beautiful sunrises in the past 6 months than I have my entire life.

The sunrises have been there all along. I just wasn’t there to see them.

I don’t want to miss anymore sunrises.

But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.   Psalm 71:14

In response to the Weekly Photo Challenge Ascend.

Victory

Image | | Marie Griffith

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Victory.”

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How does a photo of a light pink sunrise over a foggy hay field show victory?

About 4 months ago I made a change. I wake up an hour earlier so that I can run in the morning before work.

The victory is that I run. For a long time I believed I couldn’t run. But I did it anyway. Barely, but I did it. As my endurance increased I started to believe I could run. The more I believed the longer I ran. The longer I ran the more I believed.

And now I run. I will run my 2nd official 5K Thanksgiving morning. I ran my first 5K in April. It was a significant event for me that I wrote about in a post called Run.

Victory.

Another victory in this is that I made a new habit. A good habit. That first morning was hard but I did it anyway. Now I wonder what took me so long because the morning run on my country roads is one of my favorite parts of the day.

I experience all sorts of beautiful things on my morning runs. The sound of birds chirping, cows bellowing, the rooster crowing. I see the bright moon and stars in the dark sky just before the sun wakes up, or fog blanketing the fields, or glistening dew, or a light pink sunrise. And occasionally one of my neighbors sitting on his front porch drinking his coffee. We wave at each other as I run by.

Victory.

We’re not locked into what was or what always has been. We can change now and make what will be better than we ever dreamed.

This victory is only the beginning. I’ve decided to move from strength to strength and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Triumph

I Did It

| Marie Griffith

I took Automattic’s Worldwide WordPress 5k Challenge and completed it this morning. This is a virtual event and can be completed anytime during Monday, October 26th through Sunday, November 1st.

I used the Runkeeper app recommended and liked it a lot. Every five minutes the app told me my distance and pace. image

I ran my first ever 5k in April and I’ve increaed my per mile pace by over a minute. Progress feels good.

Don’t mistake me for a runner. I didn’t start running until a little over a year ago and I liked it. That’s all. I’m just a middle aged wife and mother trying to stay fit and found out this is a pretty good way to do it.

I’m also starting a new Thanksgiving tradition and will run a 5k called the Turkey Trot that morning.

Who knows? A 10k might be in my future.

My Country Road

Image | | Marie Griffith

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I’ve walked down this country road for over 13 years. Now I’m learning to run on this road.  I never get tired of the scenery. The cows always stare at me as I go by. Around the curve and up the hill is Lacy, the friendly border collie who begs for me to pet her. Then there’s Lulu, a large fluffy white dog that barks until I run past her. Going and coming back.

I used to push my youngest in a stroller down this road, while my older two rode their bikes. Now my youngest out runs me on this road and my older two have no time for bikes now.  They have cars and jobs and friends they want to see.

The little old church and the newly renovated barn, chicken houses, neighbors’ homes and hay fields are on this road.  I love this road.

My country road.

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: The Road Taken

Run

| Marie Griffith

On April 18th I ran a 5K.

This is amazing because for 30 years I believed I couldn’t run.  I am physically capable but I had a mental block about running.

I started to believe I could run after doing 8 weeks of Seal Fit and eating differently. Each workout of the day consisted of various exercises that included short runs. One part of a workout might be 4 sets of a 200 yard run, 20 squats, 10 mountain climbers, and 15 push ups.  My endurance increased after each workout and I liked the way I felt after running.

I have a friend who trained for and completed her first half-marathon last year. She suffers with asthma but she learned to control her breathing and ran the entire race.  I was inspired by her resolve not to let asthma control her.

Last fall I began using the C25K app on my smart phone with no real intentions of doing a 5K.  I was so excited when I ran for eight straight minutes during the 5th week of training.  Then I ran 10 minutes, then 20.  The next thing I knew I wanted to run a 5K and set a goal to run one in 2015.

When I learned that Hospice of the Valley was hosting a Celebrating Life 5K I knew it was the one. I would be able to run in honor of Mom. We were blessed to have them care for my mother during her last 7 months battling COPD.  They were all very special to Mom and to us.

For two weeks leading up to the race I was a bit nervous.  I didn’t care about my time.  I just wanted to run the entire race.

On April 18th I ran the 3.1 miles placing 81st of 120 runners.

When I thought about quitting I thought of Mom who couldn’t run. I thought about how I would feel when I finished. I thought about my husband and daughter waiting for me at the finish line.

My daughter took this picture right after I crossed the finish line

Needless to say that was a very happy moment for me. It was exhilarating to run that race.  More importantly I was excited about what it meant for me in other areas of my life.

The thing is, I can do a lot more than I think I can. My mind just has to change first.

Any deep change in how we live starts with a deep change in what we believe and how we think. The change can start with trying something new.  Or experiencing a job loss or health crisis. A tragedy can spark the change.  Even watching someone else change can inspire it.

Whatever that thing is you thought you could never do:  try it.

Want to sing?  Paint?  Start a business? Write a book? Lose 50 pounds?  Be a speaker?

Take a class. Get some information. Do something.  Just try it. You might be amazed at what happens.

I plan on participating in the Celebrating Life 5K each year. Not only that, I’m going to run another 5K in the fall.

And I’m going to place better than 81st.