I am no longer wallowing in the not-so-hot 15K race I had this Saturday. In fact, I’m turning the disappointing experience into a catalyst for something more:
I normally cut off the D-Chip when I get home, but I’m leaving the timer from Saturday’s race on my shoelaces. Every time I look down at my feet, I am reminded that I NEVER want to feel or look like this after a race:
I would much prefer to always look like this as I cross the finish line:
I’m turning my experience on Saturday into serious motivation to integrate faster short runs into my training. I do not enjoy speedwork (probably because it’s so hard), but I know it’s worth it in the end. I KNOW I CAN DO THIS!
Around 10 AM, I took a break from working and did a speedy 4.0- mile run. Instead of falling into my comfortable pace of 10:00-minute/miles, I picked it up and did 9:00. Whenever I felt like slowing down, I looked at my shoes, saw that bright orange D-Chip, and picked up the pace!
- Duration: 36:17
- Distance: 4.0 miles
- Mile 1: 9:02
- Mile 2: 9:04
- Mile 3: 8:59
- Mile 4: 9:12
It was hard, but I felt so accomplished at the end! I KNOW that I can do anything I set my mind to, and trust me–I’m dead-set on improving my pace back to pre-injury speeds. It’s going to take a little bit of work, but I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge.
I came home and made lunch, which featured some delicious VEGGIES!
As part of the DailySpark Learn to Luv Veggies Challenge, I made stir-fry sugar snap peas and fresh corn:
I also had baked tofu and cous cous:
To make the veggies, I stir-fried the corn and sugar snap peas in a little water, olive oil, and about 1 tablespoon of minced garlic until the corn browned. These veggies were SO delicious. I can’t believe I’ve just been steaming veggies…. there are so many great ways to cook them!
Dessert was a handful of dates:
Have you checked out today’s Operation Beautiful notes? Don’t forget, I’ll be collecting submissions for the book soon — so stay tuned!
Natalie from No No to Yo Yo wrote me today to say:
"I started out on my journey to healthy living a little over 10 months ago. When I started trying to change I didn’t believe in myself, didn’t think I could do it, and it was ALL ABOUT the "Fat Talk." When I decided to make a change in my life and kick everything negative and unhealthy, I really tried to focus on positive thinking and telling myself things that I didn’t at first think were true.
As time went on some of those things started to become easier and easier to say. I found your blog through Angela’s and then I found Operation Beautiful. I thought Operation Beautiful was such a great idea, and I knew from what I had been doing the few months before, that this would only add to my progress and help me truly believe in myself. Women are so hard on themselves and do not give themselves the credit they deserve!
After posting my first Operation Beautiful note, I felt amazing. I felt strong and I believed what it had said. I knew that I was beautiful and that I did deserve to believe it, and anyone who read what I had wrote should feel the same way about themselves. It was me and only me who had been holding myself back all this time. I was my own worst enemy and I didn’t even know it.
After I finally believed in myself, my life changed in every single way.
Operation Beautiful was a stepping stone for me and something I’ll always remember!"
What experiences taught you to believe in yourself? For me, my first 10K was a huge learning experience and gave me a great deal of confidence. If I could go from sitting on the couch to running 6.2 miles in two months, I could do anything!
What a great way to motivate yourself and to turn a rough run into something good!
It looks like your starting off the veggie challenge right! Great job!