Meanwhile, in Running News…By Kim Valzania

Today I totally crushed the hills!  Nope, didn’t.  In fact I avoided them.  Of the 7 hills I had planned, I avoided all but 2, and the 2 that I “tackled” barely qualify as hills.  There was a lot of “veering off” this morning.  But…I didn’t stop.

I set a new pace record!  Nope, didn’t.  In fact my elderly neighbor in her walker could have kicked my ass.  I slugged along as if there were sand bags tied to my shoes.  But…I didn’t turn back.

I ran super early to take advantage of the cooler temperature!   Nope, I waited way too long.  Temps were in the 70’s and I was sweating bullets before I left my driveway.  But…I went anyway.

I stretched out completely before I ran!  Nope, didn’t.  In fact, the word “barely” comes to mind.  If bending over to tie my shoes qualifies as stretching, then yes I stretched.  I stretched for a total of 25 seconds. But…I tied my shoes.

I ran slowly on purpose!  Nope, I sure didn’t.  Every 10^th of a mile felt like a 5k this morning.  In fact, I counted 10^th’s of miles instead of whole miles.  That helped for about a 10^th of a mile.   But…I kept going.

I did some interval training!  Yeah, sure I did.   If “interval training” means you run slower than your regular pace at some points during your run, then yeah, I did a lot of interval training today.   In fact, “Trouble” by Ray LaMontagne came on my iPod while I was “working on my intervals” and motivated me even more.   Are you supposed to yawn during interval training?  But…I didn’t walk.  

I stayed focused!  Nope, I sure didn’t.  I thought about every last thing I needed to do today.  I thought about the mountain of laundry, the kitchen, the empty fridge, my car.  I thought about how shitty True Detective is this season despite the stellar cast.  As pretty as Rachel McAdams is, she sure can get gritty. I thought about wedding dresses. I thought about launching my salad dressing business.   But…I didn’t retreat.

I ran a new, interesting route!  Nope, I pretty much ran the same old boring route I could run in my sleep.  In fact, it felt like I was sleeping.  But…I didn’t let up.

I added some miles this morning!  Nope, didn’t.   In fact, at EXACTLY 4.5 miles I stopped abruptly.  I was 20 feet from my mailbox, but there was no damn way I was doing any more than I planned.  No way, not today.  But…I did it.   

And, now it’s done.