Deep Thoughts by Rebecca L. Price... while running.

What in the hell do runners think about while running? Especially those long runs? I often credit myself with not liking to let my thoughts run wild because I am not sure where they will lead me, but even as I try to distract my mind with the occasional Lady Ga Ga and some ACDC I still find myself drifting away in thought, whilst simultaneously trying to push myself to keep going.



Here is what I think about whilst running, again, Deep Thoughts by Rebecca L. Price:



1) Hills eternally suck. I'm told by people "they get better with time and practice" I don't care, I could be a satisfied running never having to run at any kind of inclining angle ever again.



2) The sky is beautiful. It was pink and purple the other night, it was quite brilliant and usually is, even if it is raining on me, the sky is magnificient. I also wonder, how in the hell people once thought the world is flat? It definitely CURVES at the horizon. Maybe it's just because I KNOW that now though.



3) If you're going to spit, do it in people's "bonus yard". That's the yard that is closest to the curb, separated by usually the sidewalk. The bonus yard is the part of the yard that homeowners begrudgingly keep mowed because of homeowners association, but do nothing other than hold trash cans once a week and provide permanent placment for mailboxes. I've found that homeowners give you less of a shirty look if you spit or hock a loogey in that direction, versus the direction of their prized 30 year mortgage payment or carefully manicured yard.

4) Running is NOT for the self conscious. I look my worst when running, I'm sure, my face winces in pain as I climb that hill in micro stride all bent over, the sweat makes my hair curl up around my face, the sweat, all the bugs that stick to my neck and chest as I run... And there's nothing like looking at your shadow and seeing your thighs flap in the wind. Fashionistas say black makes you look skinnier, considering my shadow is ALL BLACK, couldn't my shadow at least pretend?!?!?

5) Kids laugh at you. Wondering why the hell you are running and all sweaty, adults are so weird. Don't worry little child, let me know how almost 30 is treating you in twenty years, maybe you've just entirely let yourself go watching another spin off of Tyler Brown's something or other and his cross dressing phenomenon.

6) Am I going to make it? Every. Single. Run. I think this. Twenty times.

7) Smile at people on your runs, especially when on foreign turf in another city. When you've finally met your demise as you have long suspected in your head and this run "does finally kill me", you want the elderly passer bys to come back across your cold dead body and feel sympathy and immediately help you as the "friendly young girl who ran passed me and smiled not too long ago" maybe they'll call 911 quicker.

8) ANYONE smoking a cigarette whilst walking outdoors makes me want to vomit whenI run through it. I've just run probably about 6 miles and am on my way home and I run through a cloud of smoke, no I will not turn to vomit in the bonus yard, I will turn to vomit ON YOU.

9) When I see no one around and "Shoot to Thrill" or "back in Black" comes on, I want to just slam on the brakes and break out in air guitar, heavy rock star style, while no one is watching, in the middle of my trail. Then innocently return to my run. No one saw that right?

10) I'm jealous of runners that have a dog as their partner. I'm lucky I MAKE time to fit in a run, how did they get time to train a well behaved dog that doesn't want to constantly cross your path and make you fall on your face? They also probably live in a bigger house. Bastards.

11) The guy that seemlessly passed me at warp speed on my run has probably just started. He isn't on his 7th mile, he's obviously on his first. riiight.

12) ACDC is great to listen to while running.

13) Sports bras are so wonderful.

14) Am I going to make it?

15) The smell of grilling burgers on an afternoon run is just brutal. Totally brutal.

16) How close to I get to passing this person before I look at them and nod my head in acknowledgment? 5 yards? 20 feet? Avoid eye contact until the last minute, you don't want to stare at them like a weirdo, put on your focused runner face and nod and smile just as you pass arms. There, that should do it. Way to bring your social awkwardness into a run. Way to go.

17) Thank god "Bust a Move" just came on, I needed that extra push. Young M.C. you are a godsend.

18) Why did FOX cancel Firefly?

19) I do not want to get up tomorrow and go to work.

20) Am I hungry or is that a cramp? Oh god I hope it isn't a cramp. I'm hungry, no wait... when did I eat last? I should't have had three milky ways from the vending machine. again.


Deep thoughts. Not very.

Rebecca 1; Bunnies 0

So last night's run was the first time that I had to muster up the motivation to go, then on the run had to the entire time continue to motivate myself. I find the first leg of the run particularly hard and a little boring now, so perhaps a change in running scenery to get me up and going again?

This was also the very first run that I did move up a step in my plan I maintained my effort from Monday night, which was to run for 5 minutes, walk for 1:30 and so on for 5.62 miles. I thought if I maintained that, then maybe to push myself I'd add on the extra mile to make it to 10K... not so. Just couldn't get there mentally last night, I still enjoyed the run, but not as much as I had been previously, because previously I had been making leaps and great strides, pushing harder and better and longer EACH DAY. Now my progress has slowed, I think a natural part of my training, but it is mentally tough. I can't blog about how I ran so much more in time, or ran so much farther than before, that is disappointing, but I should focus on how far I've come, so quickly.

I think what I would like to do is really push to run that 6.26 miles to make it 10K, not run the whole way, but just last that long. Use my 5 minutes running 1:30 walking and add on that extra mile. I really think I can do it, I'm just not that excited about it this time around. Then once that I have done that, I really need to concentrate on training just for a 5K, I feel like knowing I can complete 10K in one session, that will be a big achievement for me so that 5K won't seem so ominous.

I run across more and more bunnies each time I run the trail behind my neighborhood, hence the title. Yesterday it was like 7 bunnies, they are multiplying, like, well, bunnies!! If I wasn't so focused on not dying or crunching my knees due to the sheer weight of my huge ass running on them, I might stop to admire those docile bunnies and their fluffy white tails, but if they continue to run across my path, my knees won't be the only thing I crush.

Tonight my strategy is to have my ipod fully charged, Paul's Palm Pre ready to go measuring my total distance and to go to the Arboretum and complete the 2.45 total distance of the track 2.5 times. I'm kinda ok with doing 5 minutes running, but maybe I should do 6 minutes running, 1:30 walking. Try to move up one minute every two days. Slow progression has helped me a lot and I think that has also helped with me being able to feel like I have made large accomplishments and made strides in my training.

I do want to mention that though I was consistent from Monday night to Wednesday night training and for the the first time "didn't add anything" I did, actually run 6:30 twice with a 1:30 walk in between, i simply HAD to bargain with myself, that horrendous hill at the top of town branch I still cannot bring myself to run up, so I promised myself that I would run to near half way up, beyond my 5 minute mark and then let myself finish to the top by walking, but the deal was I still had to push myself. It worked...

That's how i push myself, I eyeball an end point, then I bargain with myself as I get closer and closer to push the end point farther and farther. That's how I added on the extra mile, running that 1/2 mile back to walk home is easy, mentally, I've just GOT to stay motivated. I am using the hell out of my ipod pop running playlist and vanilla ice with some britney spears and young mc is getting a little old over and over. Time to get me some new music to run to! That's next.

I have officially sent in mine (and Andrea's) application for the 5K Great Buffalo Chase at Buffalo Trace. looks like a fun first 5K, I'm excited, my strategy to get myself extra excited about it, I have promised to buy myself that cute purple exercise top at Target and a new pair of exercise pants that go just below the knee. If I keep running like this, I will need to purchase a new pair of shoes, those really make all the difference!

I am also thrilled that Andrea is running too, now, we don't need to take over the running world, but having someone who just also knows the difficulty, the challenges, is very comforting and motivating. For the first time, I really don't feel competitive with Andrea (maybe I have just grown up), also that came out bad, I don't feel competitive with a friend for the first time. ANYONE I would always get competitive with and this time, it's really about a goal and enjoying that goal and the fact that I get to do that and enjoy it with a great friend is just gravy. Not kicking someone's ass.