When in doubt, sweat it out!!

I started my week Monday, with hopes of warm weather to help usher in the first day of spring. And what do you think mother nature decided?? Oh she decided a longer winter would be better……eek!!

Ok, I will admit living in Washington state has really sissified me. I grew up in Montana, with harsh winters, snowstorms in April and May, and sometimes snow in August. Below zero temperatures for weeks. And here I am complaining about the prolonged winter weather in the Inland Northwest.

Mother nature was cruel giving us a warm week of 50 degrees and sun, just to slap us in the face with ice cold mornings and wind. I was getting used to it. Now, I have the prolonged “winter blues.” It’s doubtful spring is really here….

So I decided “when in doubt, sweat it out!!”

This is what I have done this week so far.

I started the week with a 30 degree run and I was freezing. Nonetheless, I ran a pretty fast time.

It wouldn’t have been bad if the sun was shining, and the wind wasn’t so darn bone chilling. Yesterday was an even colder morning of 25 degrees, but I only had 5 miles on my training plan.

Today was 800’s. Today was rainy, windy, and chilly. First day of Spring??…..I think not. Thanks Mother Nature.

I couldn’t let the rain and wind win. I am way to prideful for that, so I laced up my shoes, grabbed my waterproof running jacket, and ventured out into the down pour.

I didn’t see any other runners, and I always see runners. Those who were out waiting at the bus stops and letting their dogs out, stared at me with disbelief. One lady looked at me and just shook her head and said “Wow, your crazy!!”

Today was one of those days that merited those awe-struck onlookers looks of amazement and bewilderment. Those days when people comment on how crazy, determined, and far to motivated you are. It makes the run so much more worth it, and instantly I felt great!! Soaked, but great!! And reminded why I do it.

When in doubt, sweat it out!!

I will be honest….the 800’s sucked. I normally don’t mind speed workouts, but when it feels like you peed your pants, because you shorts are that soaked, and your face is dripping with sweat and rain, and the last 100 meters of every lap is against the wind, with rain slapping in your face, there not especially fun. And you start doubting the very reason you ever started running in the first place….

When in DOUBT, SWEAT IT OUT!!

Running is just as much a mental game as a it is physical. Speed workouts are proof of this. I was doubting that I could finish 7 more of these, on top of the 1.5 mile cool down to my house (although I really didn’t need to be any colder).

I usually switch directions halfway through my workout, so I prevent injury from running the exact same way, to even it all out. Mentally this helps. It’s almost as if you think you’re starting a new workout, and I feel refreshed again. See mental game. It’s still the same track, same workout, same rainy conditions, but nonetheless switching directions gave me an extra push.

I continued sweating it out with 4 more 800’s to go. I love the halfway point. Only 12 more laps of those windy, rain slapping 100 meters. Yeah!!

My last half of the workout always goes faster, because I realize I still have so much left in me. Before I knew it, I had one 800 left. Teachers were arriving at school, and looking at me, with that look of “why?” I thought to myself, “Boston. Right now I am sweating it out for Boston.”

And then before I knew it I was done. The rain wasn’t!!

My 1.5 mile run home, wasn’t bad, because I had runners high. Seriously I couldn’t believe I was already going up the hill to my house. I was dreading the incline back home too, but I didn’t even feel it. Thanks runner’s high.

And I knew I would be greeted with this cute smile later when I was ready for some sister/nephew time.

He’s my sunshine when Spokane skies are gray, as Marc would say. And we enjoyed a great dance party (this was better than the dance party I had with myself in the bathroom earlier as I was getting ready, don’t ask 🙂 )

The workout was worth it. The rain and wind, and all the cold morning runs were worth it!! When I doubt about why i do this, I sweat it out, and think of Boston!!

All week I have been “sweating it out”: frustrations, stress, discouragement, doubt, hopeless feelings of spring’s existence. Boy do I feel better after my “sweating it out” sessions. So next time you feel doubt, just sweat it out.

What’s been tough for you this week?? How are you going to sweat it out??