Steps in the Right Direction

Today's post is about taking steps in the right direction. Lately I feel like I've been taking steps back. My mileage has been way down and weight has been way up. My morale has been bottoming out and I've been getting pretty discouraged, at times wondering if I'm going to be able to get to the finish line. I've been avoiding posting because I didn't want to post negative news. (Doesn't mean I haven't been reading all of yours.)

I've been trying to ask myself, "why?" What has caused this regression?? Why don't I continue to move forward, but instead stand still or even move back??

Then this weekend I got a dose of reality. Who cares why?? It doesn't matter why I've stop doing what I know I should. It's just time to suck it up and do it.

Yesterday was the Mighty Meehan 5K in Dennis, MA. This race is to benefit Infant ALL (a type of leukemia). The race is named after Turlough Meehan, a young soul who left this earth too early last year at just 6 months. I had agreed a couple months ago to run this with a good friend of mine...and to be honest...if she wasn't doing it, I probably would have backed out. The weather yesterday morning was breezy and overcast. It actually felt like it was going to be great weather for a run. Then the rain came. Not only did the rain come, it came in sideways. I don't think I ever experienced rain coming down at such an angle. While waiting for the starting gun to sound my right side was soaking wet and my left side was completely dry. A very strange experience. The the race began and the rain came down harder and the puddles grew quickly. While running in those strange conditions something weird started to happen. Instead of feeling miserable and cold, I was feeling motivated and moved.

As I dodged puddles I would look up at the other runners and walkers, many of whom were friends and family of young Turlough. I realized that no amount of rain was going to prevent them from honoring him. Not only were the runners and walkers supporting the cause, but those who couldn't walk or run the distance had set up camp around the course, cheering the rest of us on. About half way through the race I found myself laughing and now I was aiming for the puddles. I felt like I was 8 years old again and running just because it was fun to feel your body move that fast. When I was done, I was soaked. I couldn't have been more wet if I had jumped into Chris's DVC pool ;0)

Now I'm feeling reinvigorated!! I'm a little embarrassed to admit that my last long run was during the Corn Fest Fun Run. But I'm looking forward to the challenge of this weekends run. 15K is a lot of miles. I figure it will do 1 of 2 things. I will not perform as well as I hope to and it will be motivation to work harder, or I will do better than I hope to and it will push me to continue to move toward that ultimate goal...EPCOT...sorry Jonathan, I know "Main Street Awaits," but that ain't the finish line.

Sorry to have run so long, but I'll try to be better about posting more regularly and that should reduce the overall length. Thanks for the prodding Mike...sorry it's been so long since I've checked in.