Vegmom Moments

Half Marathon Training - This Time

THE PAST:

First Half Marathon:

Reason - A bunch of Moms said they could do it, so I joined along to give it a try

Fact - The others dropped out before training began

My Goal - To keep going, then finish before they shut down the line and NOT die

Results - I finished before they shut down the line and am still alive

 

Second Half Marathon:

Reason - Train with a friend and walk the entire race, but do it together so she could get across that finish line

Fact - Friend developed stress fractures at the very end of training and couldn't do the race

My Goal - To finish anyway in her honor , beat my time and still feel great

Results - I finished 20 minutes faster AND felt great with my friend waiting for me at the finish line!

 

First and Last Full Marathon:

Reason - I wanted to finish a full Marathon before I turned 40 and show Vegkid that you can do anything you set your mind to if you work hard enough.

Fact - I trained while eating mostly Vegan and Raw foods, feeling better than I ever have

My Goal - Finish all 26.2 miles without dying and before they shut down the line and never put my body through this again

Results - I finished all 26.2 miles, I didn't Die, made it before they shut down the line (barely) but experienced adrenal fatigue and hormone imbalances, that took a long time to fix.

 

THE NOW:

 

Pick Up a Nail Save a Tire

Every time I go for a run or walk where this is any stretch of road or side street, nails find me.  I don't mean to say that I find them, because I don't. 

I don't look for them, I don't search out nails, and yet they find me.  A couple years ago, when I found one, I'd pick it up and bring it home to be disposed of properly.  Being that I make up songs in my head, I would quietly sing..

"Pick up a nail save a tire"

If I see a nail in front of me and walk past it, I'm drawn to go back and get it.  I PHYSICALLY can't NOT leave a nail where it lies.  In my mind, I think of the tire that could be ruined because of that nail, the landfill that will rise because of that tire, and the family that could be stranded on the side of the road for Christmas.

I think about the Cost that a family could endure to replace the tire when they may not have the funds, or the Bike rider that has to walk the rest of the way home because their tire is ruined, or the little child that could find the nail and hurt themselves, or dog that could jet out in to the road and take the nail in his paw, or Squirrel or chipmunk, OH, you get the idea!!!

Time and time again, I pick up those stinkin nails and carry them home.  I do not know where they come from, sometimes I think there is a Nail fairy that drops them in the middle of a street then sits back to laugh at me when I stop my run mid-stride to grab it.

Sometimes I think that I'm walking/running on that road at that exact moment to be the person that finds the nail to help a family from dismay.  But regardless of the thoughts in my head, I stop, EVERY SINGLE TIME!!

Fast forward to today:

I was running along my merrily way, jogging off some steam, minding my own business, when I saw a rusty nail under my foot.  

"NO" I said... You are not stopping.. I yelled at myself.. "Don't Do it.. just keep running just keep running"

I was determined to put the nail out of my head and keep with my stride for the first time in several years, I was NOT going to stop.  No rusty nails in the palm of my hand...Then the thoughts, the nagging feelings, I couldn't take it.  Guilt started to set in.

IT IS CHRISTMAS EVE of all days... I had to do the right thing, what was I thinking??? 

So I went back to get the nail, when I realized it had multiplied.

There beside Mr. Rusty Nail was his Friend, Rusty Nail #2.. And in front of Rusty Nail #2..   A few more steps I found screw/nail #3 and while taking off, I found two more at the end of the road.

Now my stride was totally blown, there would be no more running, because I couldn't let these guys poke me.  Rusty nails and pokes are probably a bad thing!

So I walked the rest of the way home caring my bounty safely, humming that little song in my head.. "Pick up a Nail, Save a Tire, Pick up a Nail, Save a Tire"

I decided since we are so close to the New year, I would put these guys in a jar, and start a collection.

Lets see how many nails I find (that find me) in 2012!!

Pick up a Nail, Save a Tire!  It could be a campaign??  

Does anyone else find nails when walking, or does the Nail fairy only strike my noggin?