mindfirerunner

What better time to wish you were an Olympian athlete than during the Olympics, right? Watching the athletes perform is motivation for many to get moving, eat healthier, and start that healthy lifestyle one more time. Undoubtedly, there’s a lot of “wishing” going on during these few short weeks of watching impressive athletes pour their bodies and souls into doing the absolute best they can do, but it was a long path for them to get where they are.

We expect that one week of healthy eating or exercising will be the fix that gets us back on track, helps us get fit, or lose weight. However, it’s a lifestyle change that is required to turn us from mere mortals into flashes of life that we portray to our families, friends, co-workers…the world needs brilliant flashes of life. The world needs something that stands out and shines brighter than the crumbling society around us.

Don’t think of it as a chance to have a brief moment in time where you were all that you knew you could be. Think of it as a chance to live up to what you were created to be. Turn your fantasy into reality.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ~ Psalm 139:14

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Some days running is a chance to get away and take a mental break. Others, it’s a way of letting your spouse deal with the toddler who thinks the cat box is a sand box. And some days, running is just a way to get out and enjoy the view.

I’m a lucky girl. I live in a quiet country town with mountain views on the west and boundless earthy plains on the east. There is no lack of running territory or shortage of dirt roads. Typically during the week I find myself running on more well lit paths with less ability to voyage through nature simply because the sun isn’t always up as early as I am, but my weekend long runs are prime opportunity for enjoying breathtaking scenery and letting my soul capture the sheer depth of silence that is perpetuated only by the gentle wind.

No matter how hard the run, how challenging the workout, or how stressful and hectic life might be, every day I get to come back to Paradise Lane and live in a reality all my own that is simple and basic, yet mesmerizing in vastness and beauty.

This is my motivation. What’s yours?

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Oh now. Don’t take it personally. Sometimes you just have to find something to keep your mind going when you’re mentally and physically zapped during a long run. Today was just one of those days where it felt like I was trudging through quicksand. I live for long runs. I enjoy getting a few miles in and getting warmed up in time to watch the sunrise, but today I wanted to do nothing more than stop running and head back to bed. I was tired. I was exhausted. And I just couldn’t get my head in the game and the lead out of my shoes. Twelve miles never seemed so far away.

So, today was my mental run. I needed to toughen up my spirit and prove to myself I could dig deeper and get the run done. With each pat of the pavement another thought of quitting ricocheted through my head, so I chased it with a bigger thought of determination and fire. One step (and one thought) at a time I got through the miles. I have found that I am my biggest competitor, my greatest obstacle, and my toughest teammate. And I have learned that it’s not always about finishing first or best, but sometimes it’s just simply about finishing.

Today, I was okay with a slower pace and a tougher run as long as I finished…

…and outran the zombies.

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Well gentlemen, I told you your time would come. There is nothing that means more to us women than knowing that we are loved and protected. When we see our men outdoors, taking care of themselves, being strong and healthy, we know that they will in turn be able to take care of us. There is more to life than financial stability. There is more to life than simply having a companion. We look for our soul mates – that single person in life that will tuck us under their arm and shield us from the things in life that may cause us harm, break us down, or shatter our spirits.

The time that you invest in yourselves is time you can, in turn, give to your women and families. We look to you for direction, support, guidance, and leadership. We instill our faith in your abilities to lead us and challenge us into becoming more than we could ever be without you. In return, we stand beside you wrapped in your strength and leadership, warmed by your soul and spirit, and next to your heart to be loved.

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Now, now boys. You’ll get your turn later. Today, it’s all about the girls. We all have something we’re good at and we all enjoy being given a little pat on the back once in a while to know we’re appreciated. But the road doesn’t always hug us back when we’re out there, or tell us “Good job”. Sometimes, it brings tears to our eyes, aches to our joints, and a little inner anger. That’s all okay – it makes us stronger, defines our character, and gives us more to learn from that we can take with us into other areas of our lives (we’re women…we like to multi-task).

So you need a pep talk to get out the door every morning, or you need a little encouragement that it’s okay to take a few minutes for yourself each day? Okay, you’ve got them now. Here’s your warm fuzzy…

…now get your ass out there and run.

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