Yesterday we had a mid-day showing on the house so Thomas and I bundled up and took the dogs for a walk.
It was mucky and beneath the snow melting was a considerable amount of trash strewn throughout our neighbourhood. The wind often picks up people’s recycling and carries it down the street, and of course the neighbourhood kids don’t help with their tossing of juice boxes and wrappers.
Who litters anymore? When I was a kid, we were taught not to litter but it seems some kids still do it.
As we rounded the corner to head home for the 3rd time (the showing took longer than I anticipated), it wasn’t surprising to see one of my neighbours, bent down, picking up trash and bagging it. She was about my age, I think.
Thomas stared at her as we walked by. In the middle of his neverending narrative, he pronounced, “Hey! I can see that lady’s BUTT!” (more…)
Yesterday was a particularly difficult day in terms of motivation and the fatigue from the weekend had me whipped, stressed and handcuffed to a bad mood that I could not shake.
Nevertheless, I went to the appointment I had with Master Homie G and she patiently watched me attempt to get through our routine despite my transformation into Whiny McWhinerson. How she did it without smacking me around, I don’t know. *I* wanted to smack myself around for her, but I was too tired.
Near the end of our session, I finally admitted the fatigue I was feeling and we stopped. Lack of good sleep over the weekend definitely had me over a barrel. I told her I would attempt to run at 4 minute intervals with 2 minutes rest in between, even though she looked apprehensive.
I ran for 4, walked for 2 and didn’t have enough steam to get past the 2 minute mark again. I was getting a cramp in my side, my shin splints were sore and so at 25 minutes, I caved on the whole thing and trudged to shower.
As I walked past Master Home G to leave, I gave her a distinct look of defeat. I was sad and frustrated.
I felt really pissed off with myself for the rest of the day. I was withdrawn, sulky and angry at not doing my best. I was really discouraged about the 8K marathon relay and thinking I could maybe only do 5K on my own, which would kick me off the team.
Last night Homie G sent me an email that made me cry:
Hey lady ,
so you looked a little discouraged/ sad when you were leaving the gym today, I’m guessing due to falling a bit short of 4 minutes 3 times. Listen DO NOT worry about it (that’s an order) …..that was EXTREMELY ambitious considering your lack of sleep over the weekend and previously weight-training for 45 minutes. I know you want this really bad and I’m so proud of you for that, but you have to respect your body -otherwise it simply will not let you train to the fullest ability the next day – which you need for your cardio session.
I also read your new “work it mom” and recent blogs and now I am more convinced than ever that you can do the 8k……but you need to listen to me okay? Like you NEED to get your rest – Daren can suck it up for a month and a bit and let you sleep longer than your usual 5 hours. You need to eat regularly and well (and this does not include those Portuguese custard thingies…hehe….j/k) and stay hydrated (especially during your runs). Also please stay mentally strong…..you know this isn’t easy and I hate to see you so discouraged over little and completely normal bumps in the training road. Okay ? Hope this makes you feel better and go to bed now…we got a long run ahead of us tomorrow .
Master Homie G
And so I bawled like a baby, wrote her back a thank you and went to bed.
This morning was Migraine Central and I nearly canceled tonight’s run, but took a couple of Tylenol and sucked it up anyway. I figured getting moving would be beneficial to shaking this headache.
On the way to the gym, I started thinking more positive thoughts. Once there, I warmed up and Homie G had me commit to 5 minutes of running. Having barely touched 4 minutes the day before, I took a deep breath and said I would.
What happened next is still a shocker.
I ran the 5 minutes.
Then walked 2, and ran 5 MORE.
THEN walked 2, RAN 2 ON AN INCLINE AND 5 MORE! SEVEN FREAKING MINUTES AT ONCE!
I walked 2 once again, and ran 5 MORE!!!!
I walked 2 again, and ran 2, then cooled off. That’s 24 minutes of running where I was only doing 15 before!
When I was getting near the end, Homie G pointed something out to me:
Tonight, I ran/walked 5K (3.1 Miles).
It felt GOOD. I’m still floored. And I’m still doing this, but that’s okay:
I couldn’t do this without Homie G’s constant support, my husband’s picking up of the slack with the kids & house, and you guys cheering me on.
Thank you.
xo
p.s. Now I know it’s okay to have bad days. I need to listen to my body.
From the gym shower I could hear them. Two young girls were being very loud and obnoxious in the change room and everything they said ended on a high note as if it were a question. There was a lot of the word “like” and giggling, and the two of them clearly thought they were the cat’s ass. For some reason, the two of them felt they were putting on a show for the rest of the women in the change room and I’m pretty sure everyone else in there thought the same thing as me: Shut the hell up already, you morons.
Lo and behold, when I got out of the shower, I discovered my locker was right near where the two of them were. I quickly opened my locker, got my clothes and went into a cubicle to get dressed. As I closed the curtain, one of the girls loudly asked, “JEALOUS?”
I have no idea if she was talking to me or not, but I thought so as I was the only one besides her friend in her vicinity and I hadn’t looked at either of them when I grabbed my stuff. Maybe they were mad I wasn’t finding them amusing. I hurriedly got dressed, packed my bag, did my hair and left.
Was I jealous of these two complete douchebags? Not in the least. Was I upset that they thought that I might be jealous of their dumbassery? Uh, that would be a big fat no.
I just wish I had known for sure if that girl was talking to me. So I could have said, “Yes please, kill off a few of my brain cells and give me a big mouth from which I can spew stupidity just like you, sweetheart.”
Do young people really act like this? Please tell me they are the exception. If this is our future, I’m going to drop a few weights on their heads.
Of course I know they are the exception. Just yesterday, 3 young girls were in the change room, speaking nicely to each other, talking about hair and an upcoming event they were attending. When I told them my sister-in-law-to-be is in the business and they could get colouring done for $12 at the high end hairdressing school, they were sweet and grateful, thanking me over and over. It was clear these university students were raised by parents who taught them manners.
Young people get a bad rap I think. Rudeness certainly isn’t limited to a certain age group. While my Granny and Papa were on a cruise last month, my Granny was in an elevator, laughing and joking with two other couples when one of the women turned to her and said, “You sure talk alot!”
My Granny saw red, she said. She turned to the woman and said, “I’ve been told that before. I’ve also been told I have manners.”
Points to Granny for replying so eloquently, but these situations make me wonder why people are purposely so mean when you least expect it.
Yesterday we had a mid-day showing on the house so Thomas and I bundled up and took the dogs for a walk.
.
From the gym shower I could hear them. Two young girls were being very loud and obnoxious in the change room and everything they said ended on a high note as if it were a question. There was a lot of the word “like” and giggling, and the two of them clearly thought they were the cat’s ass. For some reason, the two of them felt they were putting on a show for the rest of the women in the change room and I’m pretty sure everyone else in there thought the same thing as me: Shut the hell up already, you morons.
