Day 153: Pressing On

Day 153:

Well, I ran 2 miles on Wednesday night and then about a mile and a half tonight.  My race is next Saturday and thanks to all the encouragement from friends, I think I'm ready.  Sort of. 

As I have mentioned, this journey in running has not been easy.  Lately, the emotional struggles have been the most difficult.  This week though, my two boys have provided the lessons I needed to move past my fears. 

Both boys run track and after several cancelled meets due to rain, they were more than ready for race day.  My oldest runs the 400 and the 4 by 4.  He has never been fast, but was setting personal records (PR) during every meet.  My youngest runs the 400, 4 by 4, and the mile and was also setting PR's at every meet. 

That is until Thursday.  On Thursday, my oldest (a high schooler) was competing in his third track meet of the week and so while still running a decent time didn't set any new records.  He wasn't upset.  He knew he ran well and he knew that after three meets, he was tired.  

Same day, my youngest (a junior higher) was competing in his second meet of the week and ran the mile 30 seconds slower than his PR.   He came home upset.  He declared, once again, that he was NEVER running the mile again.  He wanted to run the 800 instead.  He didn't understand why his coach kept insisting that he run the mile since he obviously is not any good at it.  (His PR in the mile is 6:22.  My PR is 14:34.  I know why his coach wants him to run the mile.  He's good.)

Like a good mom, I spent several hours trying to talk to him.  I reminded him that he has only done three races AND shaved a whole minute off his time between the first two.  What I wasn't expecting after this meltdown was our run today.

Today, he wanted to run with me.  He wanted to practice his sprints and get an extra run in before track practice starts again this week.  Yes, he is still upset about having to run the mile, but he is excited about running with his mom.  He is excited about watching his mom run her first race.  And if you push the subject, he is excited about having to run. 

So, what's the lesson you ask?  Simple my dear Grasshopper.  Setbacks happen.  Disappointments happen.  What matters is what you do about those setbacks and disappointments.  I can shrug them off as a bad day like my oldest and just bask in the satisfaction of completing a race.  I can get upset and stomp my feet and declare that I am never ever running again.  (Mine and my youngest's default setting.)  Or I can do what my youngest and I did today and get up and just run. 

Tonight, I am working on letting those bad days, those bad runs, roll off my back so I can get up tomorrow and run again. 

Running again and always,
Lisa