Running Slow

Waking up this morning immediately took me back to a year ago. My destination was the Spencerport canal to meet my partner crime.  There is no better recipe to help start the day, the week off on the right foot!  It was foggy and a light rain began to fell, and I knew Pina was not going to be in love with the weather... but she also knows how rain and water doesn't bother me one bit.  (Infact, I kinda like it... but that's probably the Aquarius in me talking).

Three miles along the canal just like clockwork.  I swear I wish I knew how many times we took that route.  You would think it would get old and boring, and sometimes it does... but it also "brings me back to the basics" and holds a special meaning.  That gravel path is the place where I've learned so much about me as runner.... especially with the help of Pina who is able to see what I'm feeling and knows what I need without even saying more than a few words. Today "It hurts" is all that I needed to say.  "Give me 30 seconds" she says. And just like that, I knew this amazing runner and friend would somehow make running "fun" again.  Somehow in her bag of tricks and knowledge she'd take this bad point and help me work through it.  In my mind, I expected her to just slow me down gradually and bring me back to my normal 13:00 minute pace.  NOPE! That was the exact opposite of what she did.  Again, somehow she pushed me to increase my speed and 30 seconds later, she checked in and said, "how are you now?". 

It's incredible to think that this woman knows me as well as she does. All I needed to do was give her 30 seconds and she had made my body fall back into the groove allowing my breathing to get back on point. "I feel better" I exclaimed. 

We continued to run and she explained that all I needed to do was to get out of the 13's.  I gasped, "REALLY?" 

Thinking about this now, I should have known that was the answer.  Just like a child who needs constant reinforcement and continued reminding about any task in life... for some reason I seem to forget that very important fact. Insert (that overall theme about running) MIND OVER MATTER.  My mind is still stuck in the 13's while my body is slowly pushing to exceed more... and capable of running faster...and I'm holding it back.  Pina has been trying to get that concept ingrained in my brain forever it seems.  She has my complete trust in everything... why is my mind fighting her?

So, today I told her I'm turning over a new leaf.  We have big plans for the summer. (Don't we always have big plans, ha?) 

What moves me today? Allowing myself to grow a little faster in pace and telling my mind to shut the heck up.

On Wednesday I will face a trail race.  Dirt Cheap, here I come!  I have some pretty awesome trail shoes to break in and I can't think of a better way to do it.  James and Pina will both be there, along with some other awesome and tough friends who I look to for inspiration  I'm beyond excited!!!!!!

Dear Pina, Thanks for always being there to push and to show me how much more confident I need to be in myself. Whether I'm wearing sneakers or even just in plain shoes.  Your friendship and support is truly indescribable. I often hope that I give back just as much as you give me... but then I realize that in some way I probably (hopefully) do. I really do love you!!