I am currently training for the Run Like Hell 1/2 Marathon in Portland Oregon and the Disney Full Marathon.
Today's run was a 9.
5 mile run.
I had been asked by friends to go out dancing last night.
As much as I wanted to, I knew I wouldn't be at my absolute best, or that I wouldn't make the run in the first place if I went out.
I stayed home, hydrated, and went to bed early.
At 4:30am the alarm clock went off.
I have always been an early riser.
Something about getting up before sunlight is so zen to me.
I love that my son and husband are sleeping peacefully at this hour so I'm not missing out on precious time with them.
I prepared a shake and my coffee and filled my water bottles.
I made sure to put Glide on, but found out after the run I missed a few places, yikes! Tip for the ladies- make sure you have an awesome sports bra and make sure to Glide around the band area.
Once I got to the beach I stopped in the gas station to make my traditional bathroom stop.
Does anyone else have to pee the second they start to run? It never fails, I always have to pee before a run no matter how much fluid I've had.
It must be nerves.
While I ran I listened to a podcast and took in all the inspiration and motivation.
One of the speakers spoke about when he does a triathlon he carries a photo with him and dedicates the race to someone.
When he crosses the finish line, he crosses twice.
Once holding up the photo of the person he dedicated the race to and once for himself.
It made me think of people in my life who I would dedicate a race to and the reasons why.
It also made me think about my goal of wanting to complete an Iron Man competition someday.
At mile 4 I turned off my iPod and just ran.
I looked around at our beautiful beaches and felt so grateful to be running in such a stunning environment.
At mile 5 the run started to get tough.
I had to walk quite a bit.
I had a decent pace the entire run but the periods of walking quickly added up and slowed my pace down significantly.
I started to let negative thoughts creep in, but quickly replaced them with positive thoughts.
Beating myself up would not make me run any faster.
I started to think about how proud I was for turning down a night out to ensure I stuck to my goals.
I thought about how so many people don't stick with running long enough to even allow themselves to build this kind of distance.
I thought about how this run was helping me reach several different goals.
I took time to envision myself reaching those goals.
I reflected on when I first got back into running again and how it felt impossible to run 30 minutes.
I appreciate the progress I have made.
In the middle of my thoughts I ran into my business partner and client.
I stopped and talked to her for a minute.
I continued to run and a woman ran up beside me.
We started talking about our shoes and I found out she is also from Washington State.
She trains all the time for different events but one of them she is training for is the Goofy in Disney.
I have done this run before.
You run a 1/2 marathon Saturday and a full marathon Sunday.
This year I will be doing just the full marathon.
It was so nice to run with her and get to know her.
She ran ahead and I competed my run.
I love that when you run you have so much time to reflect on many different area's of your life, that you can meet people who are just like you, and that you get healthy in the process.
If you are just starting a running program, a new workout, a nutrition plan, or a new business venture- please hold steady.
Don't give up.
It is consistent actions overtime that will bring you to your goals.
If I would have given up because a 30 minute run was tough, I never would have been running 9.
5 miles this morning.
When you reach your goals you will set new goals.
What you gain in the process is so much more important.
You are going to have runs that are super slow and painful.
You will have a week or two, or three where business is slow.
You will cheat on your nutrition plan when you shouldn't.
Someone will be faster, skinnier, stronger, or make more money than you.
It's okay.
The journey is yours.
Work on YOU.
Take consistent actions.
Challenge yourself.
Get uncomfortable.
Do things that scare you.
Count your blessings.
Do not ever give up on your dreams.
Find solutions.
We are all a work in progress.
Don't focus on other people, your competition, or give thought to what people might think.
Focus on becoming the absolute best version of yourself that you can be and everything else will fall into place.
To your health, Jessica Summerall
Today's run was a 9.
5 mile run.
I had been asked by friends to go out dancing last night.
As much as I wanted to, I knew I wouldn't be at my absolute best, or that I wouldn't make the run in the first place if I went out.
I stayed home, hydrated, and went to bed early.
At 4:30am the alarm clock went off.
I have always been an early riser.
Something about getting up before sunlight is so zen to me.
I love that my son and husband are sleeping peacefully at this hour so I'm not missing out on precious time with them.
I prepared a shake and my coffee and filled my water bottles.
I made sure to put Glide on, but found out after the run I missed a few places, yikes! Tip for the ladies- make sure you have an awesome sports bra and make sure to Glide around the band area.
Once I got to the beach I stopped in the gas station to make my traditional bathroom stop.
Does anyone else have to pee the second they start to run? It never fails, I always have to pee before a run no matter how much fluid I've had.
It must be nerves.
While I ran I listened to a podcast and took in all the inspiration and motivation.
One of the speakers spoke about when he does a triathlon he carries a photo with him and dedicates the race to someone.
When he crosses the finish line, he crosses twice.
Once holding up the photo of the person he dedicated the race to and once for himself.
It made me think of people in my life who I would dedicate a race to and the reasons why.
It also made me think about my goal of wanting to complete an Iron Man competition someday.
At mile 4 I turned off my iPod and just ran.
I looked around at our beautiful beaches and felt so grateful to be running in such a stunning environment.
At mile 5 the run started to get tough.
I had to walk quite a bit.
I had a decent pace the entire run but the periods of walking quickly added up and slowed my pace down significantly.
I started to let negative thoughts creep in, but quickly replaced them with positive thoughts.
Beating myself up would not make me run any faster.
I started to think about how proud I was for turning down a night out to ensure I stuck to my goals.
I thought about how so many people don't stick with running long enough to even allow themselves to build this kind of distance.
I thought about how this run was helping me reach several different goals.
I took time to envision myself reaching those goals.
I reflected on when I first got back into running again and how it felt impossible to run 30 minutes.
I appreciate the progress I have made.
In the middle of my thoughts I ran into my business partner and client.
I stopped and talked to her for a minute.
I continued to run and a woman ran up beside me.
We started talking about our shoes and I found out she is also from Washington State.
She trains all the time for different events but one of them she is training for is the Goofy in Disney.
I have done this run before.
You run a 1/2 marathon Saturday and a full marathon Sunday.
This year I will be doing just the full marathon.
It was so nice to run with her and get to know her.
She ran ahead and I competed my run.
I love that when you run you have so much time to reflect on many different area's of your life, that you can meet people who are just like you, and that you get healthy in the process.
If you are just starting a running program, a new workout, a nutrition plan, or a new business venture- please hold steady.
Don't give up.
It is consistent actions overtime that will bring you to your goals.
If I would have given up because a 30 minute run was tough, I never would have been running 9.
5 miles this morning.
When you reach your goals you will set new goals.
What you gain in the process is so much more important.
You are going to have runs that are super slow and painful.
You will have a week or two, or three where business is slow.
You will cheat on your nutrition plan when you shouldn't.
Someone will be faster, skinnier, stronger, or make more money than you.
It's okay.
The journey is yours.
Work on YOU.
Take consistent actions.
Challenge yourself.
Get uncomfortable.
Do things that scare you.
Count your blessings.
Do not ever give up on your dreams.
Find solutions.
We are all a work in progress.
Don't focus on other people, your competition, or give thought to what people might think.
Focus on becoming the absolute best version of yourself that you can be and everything else will fall into place.
To your health, Jessica Summerall