Fridays Run

So after overcoming dread and finally really wanting to go for a long slow run, I have to share with you my other secret.

I will call it sloth. I have been avoiding hills like the plague not because I can't do them..I am awesome on hills, I am physically very strong. I have been avoiding them just because I was dreading the long runs and if you add hills to the dread....sigh it just makes it too hard to get out the door.

Friday I decided no way, I was just going to run, and I chose Brawley hill as my goal hill. I told my monkey mind that the worst case scenario was that I would walk up Brawley hill, no big deal.

So off I ran, the first 3 sets of 10 and 1's were a little tough, just because I don't seem to warm up for 4 or 5k, they led me to Ashburn hill which you can see looming in front of you like a mountain, you really can't think about Ashburn Hill until you are on the hail it looks way harder than it is, I crested Ashburn Hill to a nice flat and then turned onto Brawely Rd for some great scenery and a bit of a down hill before the real test of the run...Brawley Hill, steep, long and almost like a double hill, you crest a bit and then immediately start the second half of the hill. I took a bit of a walk break at the second part but dug down deep and ran the rest. I must say it was tough but not that tough.

One of the things that helped me was my playlist, sometimes I run with music sometimes not...over the 12 years I have been running I have trained without music most of the time but sometimes I enjoy it. I carefully choose the playlists, I pick positive lyrics and music that affects my mood, there is nothing better than the new song written for the Olympics "I believe" while cresting a hill.

I was reminded on Friday that I am awesome on hills I think it is my personality that make me good on hills, I can be very determined and very focussed. I set goals and generally get there one way or another. Some people criticize me for my drive but I remind them that my journey is not theirs, sometimes I just bite my tongue and try hard not to say what I am thinking realizing that small comments can do great damage and in the end are not that important.

After Fridays hilly run I drove to Humber College and sat at a desk for 4 hours, I must admit that I felt like my body was not going to straighten as I stood up at 9:00pm to leave.

I ran 4k with run club Saturday morning, finished off a 20 hour course on the weekend and feel like a million bucks today.

I am already planning this weeks long run....17k, including Ashburn and Brawley Hills .

If you are reading this and think I do too much.......remember...your journey and mine are different for a reason...LOL