Training Is A BLAST!

I added yoga and it has given me some power within a short amount of time. My body is getting positive effects digestively, decreasing knee and low back pain, while increasing ability in long aerobic workouts. I did a hilly, lengthy, baseline brick at a little higher altitude. I felt great during and after. I really wanted and could have pushed it faster but, fought the desire.

I biked up to Red Rocks Amphitheater, a great ride if you haven't done it yet. (Google it for Roadies.) Then ran back and forth down and up the theater. Had no distress except my body didn't want to eat an apple post run. I got it down w/out puking it up.

I was smiling the whole run. It was so much fun. Pushed and recovered on several of the aisles. Stopped and took a pic for a couple a guys for their stage dreams. Ever since I read this book, I will never run in place nor be impatient at a stop light again. I look forward to my workouts. I am not kidding you. If I don't, there is something that must be changed. I look at what it must be. A guy sprints stairs w/ his dog as I run back and forth and I joke with him, "Go, Go, Beat me," as we almost cross paths. He starts smiling and hauls butt.

Occasionally, you'll see someone training w/ a "mentor." I did. Some are really nice. I believe all I mentally picture and say to myself effects my training. A mentor and his "student" were doing stairs in front of me. As they passed, the mentor w/ the backpack told his "student", "You're going to do 7 push-ups sorta as a penance for beating me." These were grown men. As I ran back down the aisle, the guy was doing the push-ups.

Ryan Hall ran w/ African kids who could easily maintain a 7-minute-mile pace while laughing and chatting w/ him. Ryan believed a big reason for this was that sports in Africa was for fun. Whereas, in the States we use running etc as punishment. There it was, right in front of me... A grown man allowing another man to use "punishing" words to do FUN! In my opinion, it said more about the student and his lack of esteem than it did the "mentor." Otherwise, he would have fired him on the spot.

The physical body is precious and training it is fun and beautiful gift, never punishment! If you are learning to run your 1st mile... a precious gift and beautiful process. Don't expect it to be burn-free. Giving it all ya got is part of it.

Have fun out there!

Christy