Yesterday was the day I was going to get back on track with my training… my goal was to do 6 miles and then I could rest today since 6 miles is my second longest distance… ever. I got the girls to sleep and set off for the gym. I had hydrated a good bit and took some Ibuprofen to help combat any headache that might want to make an appearance. I was feeling sluggish, but I didn’t let it deter me. When I got to the gym, it was pretty busy for a Sunday at 2pm.. the parking lot looked like it does for the afterwork crowd.

I took a before picture, so you can point and laugh at how red faced I get when I run… it’s not pretty.

I get inside and the place is packed.. people in the pool, a spin class going on, most of the cardio machines are taken and people mulling around in the weight area. I hope on one of the last remaining treadmills and get to work. Starts out pretty easy, but here is my problem. I hate getting too hot. (I know, I shouldn’t be a runner if that is a problem.) And running on a treadmill, always makes me extremely hot, no wind, and other peoples body heat drive me nutso. I am too short for that built in fan to do any good.. it just hits the top of my head.

Anyway, when the gym is packed like that, there is a 30 minute time limit for cardio machines. When I hit 30 minutes, I realized that no other treadmills were open and people were waiting. I also realize that the treadmill police wouldn’t have come and made me get off my treadmill since there were women who were walking on the dang things for an hour at a time. But the guilt ate at me. What if that were ME wanting to get on a treadmill.. I would want someone to follow the rules, right? So, I did 2.37 at 30 minutes and got off.

And took an after picture… see?? So red faced!

When I got home, I was mad at myself, I should have just kept running and someone else would have gotten off the treadmill for that person.. Lord knows the guy next to me in the full sweat suit running while holding onto the side rails needed to– I was afraid he was going to hurt himself. (Side note.. I hate getting into between two guys on treadmills, they always want to compete with my running– run when I run and walk when I walk– and I am not that fast!) Anyway, John looked at me and asked “What happened this time?” I was a little taken back, what did he mean by that? He said, “It’s always something.. a headache, side stitches, knee pain, shin splints” Which has caused me to think… Am I wimpy? Can I not push myself to get better? Or to do those longer runs? Am I scared of failure? I realize there will be pain and discomfort in this. You can’t be an athlete of any kind or be successful without it. So, am I just trying to play everything safe?

While you ponder my life’s questions.. look at my sweet princesses in their zebra matching jammies.. Such cuties!