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Tim Bergsten created this Ning Network.

 actually wrote this post yesterday and almost submitted it, but chose to sit on it for a day and look at it again today. I don't usually do that, I usually think of something I want to share during a run and then just sit down, write, and then hit submit.

I do not know why I chose to sit on this one. Maybe it was the hope my thoughts about my race would change or maybe it was the sheer vulnerability I put in writing. Truth be told, it was both. My friend Dan Angeles suggested that one of the benefits of a blog is the raw truth they can provide and how others will probably relate to my stories and experiences. So, I have chosen to submit this blog as I originally wrote it. 

To say that I am frustrated about my performance at the Summer Roundup 12K, today, would be an understatement to say the least. Please understand, I was not expecting much today. My injuries have flared up over the last couple weeks and I have only ran 3 times (including the race yesterday). On the days I have chosen to run, they were good days. 

Run #1: I ran once the last week of June and I got in 6 miles on the Santa Fe trail and it was a GREAT run! Not fast, but it was a good pace, my foot and leg felt good, I ran into a former colleague and we caught up, and I met two very nice people. (More about them in my next post). 

Run #2: This past week, on the 4th of July, I ran in Pagosa Springs. I spent 4 days in Pagosa. I was excited for the opportunity to run in a new place, at good altitude, but only ran once. I ran 5 miles with my sister-in-law and felt GREAT! We chatted the whole way and my foot/leg was doing good. But, a few hours later I could barely walk!!!

The next day we were headed home and we had planned to hike the Sand Dunes and Zapata Falls. All I could think was that I didn't want to take away from my kids' experiences because of my injury. There was NO WAY I wasn't taking them. The next day, we arrive at the Sand Dunes and we start walking. The uneven and loose sand made it very painful to walk. My daughter Emma wanted to hike to the highest point we could see (which thankfully was only half-way up) and I couldn't bare telling her no. So we did it! The last 50 meters it felt like my achilles was going to tear in half! I didn't think I could make it. So I brought my hands to the sand, took a deep breath in, closed my eyes and climbed quickly. I made it!

When we were at the top we were all exhausted and we sat and enjoyed our view! Both Emma and Nicholas were tired, but proud of themselves! When we decided to go down, my entire family flew down the sand! I had to walk, yes it was faster than the way up!

I decided that the only chance I would have to run the Summer Roundup would be to rest, ice, take Aleve, and do my PT until race day. So that is what I did.

The morning of the race, it took everything I had to get out of bed to go run. I knew it was not going to be good. The only thing that motivated me was the fact I was a Mighty Marmot. I got to the course and started to warm-up, although it was painful to run, I quickly realized I was very thankful to be there.

I have written about the running community a little bit already, but I have not done you all justice. To see your smiling faces, excited about the challenge today would hold. To be honest, I was also thankful to hear that I was not the only that struggled to get motivated to be there. No matter how I feel, how you feel, we are never alone!

As the race started, I kept my goals realistic. My goal was to FINISH! I am thankful I achieved that goal!

I was able to achieve my goal due to:

  1. The encouragement from other racers,
  2. The cheering from the spectators,
  3. The support from the numerous volunteers,
  4. and the fact I listened to my body and walked when the pain in my foot became too much to handle.

With the Pikes Peak Marathon just over a month away, this is not where my performance and training are supposed to be. So I am FRUSTRATED. I need to find motivation to do other workouts, besides running. I need to lift, swim, hike, etc. whatever I can to increase my fitness and be as ready as I can be. I know I can do it. I just need to get out of my funk and stop feeling bad for myself.

BECAUSE like my running friends Donna Garcia, Gene (Bubba) Chavez, and Nadine Garcia reminded me (right after the race) I need to be thankful that I can still do this at all. I am refocused on my goals and I will try to return to health, listen to my body, increase my fitness, and forgive myself if things don't go as planned.

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