Never Give Up

I had to name this post "Never Give Up".  As you know, I've struggled for quite some time with injuries as well as several other medical issues including side affects and weight gain from having to lay off running.  One of my problems is that I mentally feed my brain and entire being with negative thinking, like: "you can stop if you want to", "it's too hard", "is that pain I feel in my hip/knee/shin", "you can't run this WHOLE way", "you're going to get beat", "you'll never win anything again, that time has past"...so on and so on.  Well, I'm only admitting the truth here.  You get the drift.  Following those dreadful thoughts and stinking thinking, my regular runs usually show it with very slow paces. 

Realizing my mental attitude has become a huge problem, I've been working on it.  Sometimes it's a success and sometimes not...but...I'm not going to give up in this area.  The challenge is on. 

BUT...today my hard efforts paid off.  We went to Magnolia Springs for a 5k this morning.  I was only "somewhat" excited about it because I am NO WHERE I use to be in my running/racing and I've had to refocus my mindset on racing until I'm stronger.  Actually, my re-focus should be what I'm thinking now:  do the best I can, when I can and where I can.  Listen to my body and work with it. 

Kent and I rode the course yesterday and I felt the uphill grade for the first mile or more.  Knowing this, I braced myself in the race.  Told Kent that I would be easy on the first part of the race in order to not hurt my knee.  It's been a constant issue for me since the first part of the year.  Back and forth, okay and laying off.  Actually, still there but not as bad. 

Just before getting to the turnaround, it flattened out.  From thereon, it was basically going down the grade.  It was an out-and-back course.  So easy!  I crossed the line at 30:25.  I was ecstatic!!  The last 5k I did, the first of March, I had to walk a lot because of my knee and came in with 36 minutes.  I refused to quit.  Today, I beat that by 6 minutes and I'm so happy.  I had NO idea that I could beat it by so much.  I can tell the "racer" in me is still there. 

Being told that awards were in 10 year age groups, I was ready to go once Kent got his.  Oh, yeah...Kent did great!!  He's totally my inspiration.  He came in 1st place in his age group which are done in two huge groups, not like the 5k.  He insisted that we wait and just see how my age group did.  It wasn't long before we knew that it was in 5 year age groups [most are down here but occasionally you'll find a 10 year age grouping].  I was hoping there was a slight chance that I might place 3rd.  As it turned out, I won 1st place!!!  I am at the end of this age group and can hardly believe that I placed. 

With no rain/thunderstorms, no knee pain, good running and winning, it was a fantastic race.  The only bad thing is that I forgot my camera.  But there will be other races.  This is probably the most beautiful course I've ever run and look forward to racing it again for many years.  Now, let me leave this thought with you.  Never, never, never give up!!  You may be going through tough times but don't quit.  My "times" have lasted almost two years since running good like I use to.  If you get down, let me encourage you that you are not alone.  If you've gotten hurt, you're not alone.  If you're pace has changed/worsen, you're not alone.  Hang in there and NEVER quit!!  Now, go

Run 4 It