Future Marathoner? No.

With Scott training for the Redding marathon, I have lately felt that my squats, sit-ups, and pushups are just not cutting it. I mean he's out there running 18 miles at a time while I'm at home doing three reps of 15. Big whoop! So yesterday Scott was going for another run and we decided that I would give running a mile a try. I know your probably thinking, "A mile? That's all?" But to a woman who can't even remember the last time she's gone for a jog/run, a mile is a HUGE deal. We headed to the trails and I first walked the loop with Carter while Scott finished his tempo run and then we headed out. 

I felt pretty good in the beginning, then the little hills appeared (which if you really know me, you know I hate hills). I was able to continue running up them both without stopping, but then I mentally let them ruin the rest of the mile. Over and over in my head I kept hearing, "I can't do this, I have to stop and walk". Scott was trying hard to get me to keep going, but my stubborn self gave in and stopped to walk. The rest of the mile (oh, did I mention it actually wasn't even a full mile) consisted of running/walking but at the end I sped it up to get it over with and finished. I only walked for maybe 10 to 15 seconds total, but nonetheless felt very defeated and quite out of shape. Now, I love my sweet husband very deeply, but I thought he would have been a better coach to his little wife than he was. I tell myself that I maybe could have run the whole thing if Scott wasn't saying over and over that, "We are almost there, but that's the worst part because that's when it starts to really hurt." Is that something you really want to be hearing, that's going to keep you running while your body is in pain??? And then be told on the drive home that you threw the towel in too early??? My fellow women and wives....would that make you want to go back out there and give it another shot? I know he thought he was being encouraging, so I had to gently tell him otherwise and he apologized. I still hate running and don't think I will ever really make it a routine, as I enjoy speed walking much better. Maybe I'll give it another shot and try it on a track where there are no hills next time. 

Yes, I felt out of shape and defeated, but I gained that back last night. Before we went to bed, Scott and I decided to have a little competition to see who could do the chair sitting/squatting against the wall (if you know what those are called I would like to know). Scott could only make it for 1 minute 40 seconds while I on the other hand was feeling great and could stay there much longer. I won!! I think it's the competition that gives me strength. I don't know if anyone remembers me doing 90 some pushups at a time for a young married's competition coming in second out of the women while I can only do about 15 at a time any other given day. It's a mystery how my mind tricks me at times into tackling those physical things. Too bad it doesn't work with running (or hiking as my Tyler family knows too well). :)