day.9.runningincircles

In 8th grade, a friend convinced me to sign up for track. It was the first time I even considered doing a sport, and I am often game to try new things if someone suggests it. For example, I was on the basketball team because my dear friend Lindsey wanted me to join with her (once again, my height gave off the perception that I'm good at basketball...though that I'm not so sure of it), I joined the newspaper because Joanna nudged me and said I would be good at it, and I did the Bike Ride Across Georgia (not just once, but 6 times) because my mom said it'd be fun....and she has to re-convince me of that every year.

So when I joined track, I got my first sports physical. This is when the doctor discovered I had PVCs (premature ventrical contractions), which is basically a murmur/hick up/skipped heart beat that happens every few seconds. I don't remember exactly what happened (could be I hate running in circles), but I ended up not doing track. Ever. Even though PVCs are not really dangerous, it scared me at the time. I opted for Cross Country in 9th grade - but refused to compete. Another girl and I were always the last to finish at practice, but I just did it to be healthy, active and of course social. Not to compete. My competitive gene I once had (I was quite the winner in Memory in my youth and wouldn't have it any other way), was gone.

Well it's back.

Whether it was the PVCs or the fact that I always felt I would never be able to be good at any sport (it's the latter one, let's be honest), all my life I have made excuses for my lack of physical strength and ability:

• I'll never be able to run as fast as my skinny sisters, so just speed walk with mom. She probably wants company anyway.
• I'll never be able to be good at tennis like my friends (who so kindly gave me a tennis ball with my address on it because it was guaranteed to be lost over the fence after the first hit), so just play second doubles and be proud if you can get the ball over.
• I'll never be good at volleyball (Conferences games!!) so just laugh and joke about it so I can just say I suck at it because I'm simply not trying (that's what a lot of my low students do, too).
• I'll never be able to do more than like 2 push-ups correctly in a row. I just won't.

I'm tired of doing it. So Denice and I headed to the track and ran in circles (boy do I hate going no where - tracks are the second worst running experiences you can have besides the treadmill). Surprisingly, it was a great time! I actually liked that we could both be out there but each do our own pace. Inspired me to get a group of friends out there every week to all run our own pace, but still be running "together." Lesson learned? Running in circles might be no fun, but if you get others to join you, those running in circles could turn into running circles (running groups!). I've been shocked by the fact that many of my friends have requested to join me on these runs, and have complimented me on how impressed they am that I'm actually following through on this. For once, I can stop making excuses.

The track! My favorite thing about Texas besides the breakfast tacos? The sunsets!

Oh and sorry, Denice, for accidentally stealing your phone and keys that night. :) Nothing like breaking into your own house, eh?

Day.9.5k.total.time: 32:42 with a 10:30 min/mile pace. Walked twice for 1 minute each time at mile 1 and mile 2.