Listening to: The Avett Brothers Tiny Desk Concert for NPR MusicAn editorial from the Washington Post on the economic effects of deporting undocumented families: The madness of mass deportation: Can business bring Arizona to its senses?
Image: OREGON LOVE!
Training: after a rough few days because of my back pain, I got back in the pool last night and it actually felt great to give my shoulder muscles some gentle work. I went to bootcamp this morning, careful not to go too hard on my back/shoulder, and it was a-ok. Gonna try to get in a nice long run tomorrow...I have a pretty high number in mind, but I don't want to jinx it...
As my marathon gets closer, I've been struggling with the fact that when I look in the mirror, I don't see the body I thought I would see running the marathon. I guess I thought that if I did all the training etc I would, on May 1st, bust out of the start line a lean, toned, bronzed running goddess. I assumed that's what marathoners looked like. Turns out that they look a lot like me. A fitter version of me, a more muscular version, but still with all the "imperfections" I struggle with. I've been thinking a lot about this the last few weeks and have come to this conclusion: the bummer is that a lot of times we set up these goals in our minds, thinking that if we achieve them, we will be new people - new people free of our past imperfections and flaws and struggles. But the reality is that even when we reach those tough goals - long runs, making it through law school, passing the bar, climbing mountains, battling depression - we are still us. But the good side of that, if I can be an optimist for a moment, is the realization that people that do those amazing things - triathletes, survivors, award winners - they look just like us. Because they are us. We are the people who do those amazing things - not a better or perfect version of us - just us, the us we are right now. And I guess that's pretty cool.
2 comments:
I just teared up reading this. It's so true. When I ran the 1/2 marathon and saw the photos afterwards I thought, hmm, I still look like...um, me. Still jiggly bits and stoutly built. It was hard to see, until I reminded myself that I RAN 13 MILES, something I never ever thought I could do. And if I looked at those pictures and didn't recognize myself, that would be even worse. I want to see myself in my accomplishments - we all deserve to give ourselves that!
PC: as always, we are on the same page and I, unfortunately, know just how you feel. Our quest continues - to keep being awesome, and to keep recognizing our own awesomeness. Love you.
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