I was going to get my run on tonight, come hell or high water.
My brother-in-law Nick and I have been talking a lot about motivation. We’re both trying to make major life improvements in certain areas and have been using each other as sounding boards. One concept we were recently discussing is how there are two kinds of excuses: legitimate excuses and pathetic excuses. I was thinking about this concept on my run tonight. I’ve decided that there is only one legitimate excuse for skipping my workouts: I’m too tired. I really don’t believe in exercising when you’re beat. Everything else – it’s too late; it’s too early; I want to watch another episode of The Walking Dead – is a pathetic excuse. You’d think Henry is the perfect excuse to lazy horizontally on the couch, but I can take him and the dogs for a walk, do a workout DVD, or hop on my indoor trainer while he naps. I really want to get back into shape, and I refuse to give into pathetic excuses.
So. That’s why I found myself lacing up my sneakers at 8:15. The Husband didn’t get home until 7:45, and I hate to pass off Henry the moment Kristien walks in the door, so I waited half an hour and then set out (in a reflective shirt and along a major roadway, just to be safe). No pathetic excuses for me. I was going to run. It ended up being an excellent run – I did 30 minutes with only 3 minutes of walking – whoop whoop!
Came home and had a cold glass of soy milk. Need to hustle up more food and soon.
Here’s dinner:
I made an egg and potato salad using a method similar to this recipe –> Tofu Salad. In addition to the hard boiled eggs and boiled potatoes, I also added in Dijon mustard, which gave the dish a special kick.
Roasted parsnip fries (just peel, slice, and bake with a little olive oil at 400 for 25 minutes) with BBQ sauce.
So. Freaking. Delicious.
So glad I didn’t blow off my run tonight. It feels so good to know that I put in the effort today!
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Good job! Going at night is very hard for me, I prefer morning workouts, but with a little one, we can’t be picky and just take what we can get.
I’m totally with you. I run every other AM, doing C25K as well, and sometimes with the little one waking up night I just feel exhausted and don’t want to. But once I get out the door it’s all worth it. Especially watching my baby play with her toys in the stroller!
Nice job on the run!!! That’s an amazing feat running 90% of a 30 minute run after having a baby so recently!!! You should be really proud of yourself
It’s so true that you never regret a workout!
Have you ever tried parsnip fires as a sweet treat? I coat mine in coconut oil and cinnamon, bake them, and eat them like cinnamon twists from Taco Bell! They’re really good dipped in a protein powder “frosting” too.
Oh wow! That sounds great. Thanks for sharing!
That potato salad looks amazing! I need to lose the pathetic excuses, they seem to be way more prevalent than legit ones for sure!
Good job getting it done
i’m all dressed for an evening run (7:30pm here) with my little one. i laced up my shoes and sat at the computer to find something to motivate me out the door. i found it! thanks! off to hit the pavement
Man…I need a dose of your motivation. Good for you!
I’m impressed – I always have trouble running at night.
You never regret a run!
I applaud you for taking time to do what is right for you. I’m sure it would be easy to stay home with the family. Good for you! I sometimes make pathetic excuses. Reading your words made me realize that some of what I rationalize as a reasonable reason for not working out is infact just a pathetic excuse. Something about the bluntness of those words made me face my truth.
Oh! But the walking dead is just SO GOOD!
I have a rule that exercise does not trump socializing with friends. I’ve blown off workouts for impromptu dinner dates or gatherings. Making memories and laughing with friends for an hour is way better than 300 calories burned.
Yes!
I completely agree!
I have definitely found that motherhood has made me take any opportunity to exercise. Pre kids I wouldn’t run in the dark or if it was raining or whatever, but now I just go no matter what. When I was doing night feeds I would even run in the wee hours straight after a feed! And I’m like you, I discovered how awesome workout DVDs are for a parent at home with a baby, so much quicker and easier than finding time to go to the gym. Another great at home exercise that gives really good bang for your buck time wise is skipping.
Caitilin, you are seriously someone i have nothing but the deepset repcpect. You rock !!!
a blog follower (and admirer!) from far away Israel,
Lital
Parsnip fried are the best! Have you tried the same thing using turnips?!? Those are really good as well.
I meant “fries”, not “fried”.
go you! yeah, it’s funny how 30 minutes of exercise can seem so daunting, but once you finish, you’re like…wow, that wasn’t so bad. and, you’re extremely happy.
it is so easy to blow off a run, but you ALWAYS are glad you went. thanks for the reminder!
I found this red clip on light that has three settings of flashes at LL BEAN a while back. It is actually made for a dogs collar but I hold it in my hand when I go running at night. I trust myself when running in the dark, but it is others you have to worry about! I also have a theory that I rather hide from people at night, so sometimes I wear a hat to prevent anyone from seeing my long hair! Or maybe I am just crazy.
1. Parsnip fries are AMAZING!
2. On getting your run on “hell or high water,” get it girl!