Mini-Victories

I was reading a blog comment earlier that reminded me that it's not always about numbers on the scale or even weight loss goals met. Sometimes it's gaining strength and stamina. Sometimes it's just about sticking to goals you set like drinking 8 glasses of water or working out those 3 times a week. This is a story about today's mini-victory.

Today it is cold and wet. It was pouring when I left work to head to class. POURING. "Great!" I thought. "I have to walk in the rain tonight." I worried that the rain would keep me from working out tonight. But then I remembered that I told someone earlier that the way I keep myself motivated to workout even when I don't want to is to simply do it....even if I whine and complain the entire time.

When I left my class the rain had reduced itself to a drizzle. I gave a brief thought to simply skipping my workout tonight and making it up tomorrow, and then I brushed that thought off, headed to the car and drove down campus to the football field (hoping and praying it was open for use of the track...it was!). I grabbed my MP3 player and my water bottle and gave myself a Nike boost. (Just Do It!)

I was impressed with how quickly I was lapping the track. I couldn't remember if it was 3 or 4 times around the track to equal a mile, but I felt I could get in four. The fourth time around the track was HARD. I got halfway and thought "OMG! There's NO WAY I can do this!" Time wasn't going fast enough and it was looking like a 5th trek around the track was necessary to fill my 30 minute goal. Then Radiohead came on.

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Two jumps in a week, I bet you think that's pretty clever don't you boy
Flyin' on your motorcycle, watching all the ground beneath you drop
You'd kill yourself for recognition, kill yourself to never ever stop
You broke another mirror, you're turning into something you are not
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Well, that's right! I have been turning into something I'm not. I am NOT what people take me for! I am stronger, faster, and have more will power than anyone gives me credit for!...my speed increased immediately.

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Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry
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I won't leave you high and dry, this body that I love and vowed to take care of. I promise. I'll make it through this and we'll both be stronger for it.

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Drying up in conversation, you will be the one who cannot talk
All your insides fall to pieces, you just sit there wishing you could still make love
They're the ones who'll hate you when you think you've got the world
all sussed out
They're the ones who'll spit at you. You will be the one screaming out
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I imagined reporting back here. To all of you. To myself and I pumped my legs harder until I pushed through that 4th lap and reached that special place on the other side of the wall once again. (see my other post) This time it felt even better. This time it lasted longer. And it wasn't until 3/4 of the way into lap 5 that I started feeling those pains again.

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Oh It's the best thing that you've ever had
The best thing that you've ever, ever had
It's the best thing that you've ever had
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Yep. It was.