Like a Phoenix...

<----- That, there, is my chocolate lab, Phoenix.  She is super friendly, energetic, always happy, tremendously loyal, eats a ton but never gains weight, and loves to run.  In those ways, she is everything that I want to be.  

The last time you heard from me, I was in a bit of a running slump.  Since then, I've been trying very hard to, not only be like Phoenix (my pup) but also be like a Phoenix (the bird) and rise from the ashes.  It's not easy to change one's mindset, but I think that I've finally found a way to overcome the doom and gloom that I'd previously felt with regards to my running.  I feel pretty confident now and it was actually simpler than I thought it would be.  Here's how I did it.  

1)  I needed to learn to CONTROL MY THOUGHTS!  

I don't think that I can say it any better than that.  I was letting too many self-defeating thoughts enter my mind and, therefore, altering my running destiny.  No more of that.  From now on, it's the Law of Attraction...sending out positive thoughts and vibes and watching them return to me 100 times over!

2)  It's just running!    

Really, that's all it is.  Forrest understood that!  I needed to be reminded to put running and racing in its proper place in my life.  It was important for me to remember WHY I run and WHY I love running and be grateful that I wasn't injured, sick, etc and that I COULD run.  One of the things that I love most about running is its simplicity.  There's a beauty in its simplicity...one that I was complicating and mucking up for no good reason.  I am taking some time to run, not race, and find that joy again and it is helping me turn the slump around, relax, and just run.        

3)  Get by with a little help from my friends. 

Friends are amazing...the running kind are EVEN BETTER!  I loved reading and was so encouraged by all of your comments on my previous post.  Several of you spoke with me in private or messaged me and it was all much appreciated.  When I came in to work earlier this week, my friend, colleague, fellow runner and blogger over at A Morning Grouch had put these two little notes in my mailbox...just because.  It brightened my day!  

For these reasons, I have been doing fairly well with marathon training.  My 26.2k (16.3 mile) run and my 18 miler both went off without a hitch.  I'm not at all nervous about doing 20 miles this weekend, other than the fact that I'll be lonely.  I feel strong, confident, and prepared and I owe much of that to my coach and my friends.  

Only 49 more days before I tackle my first marathon and I'm in a better mindset than I've been in a long.  Stay tuned...