Clearing the Hurdles Part I

Obstacles come at all of us at different times in our everyday lives.  We struggle financially, spiritually, emotionally (especially us girls) and physically. Since we are talking running here, we'll call them hurdles. I've been thinking about what hinders me from running my best at times as well as what hinders others I know and I thought it would be good to discuss how they can be conquered. I know I don't have the answers to all of these problems so I am hoping that my readers will give their input and share struggles that you face as well. As they say, admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery! This may take a few posts since there may be many, so I'll start with one or two today.

The idea for this post popped into my head the other day because I failed to overcome one of my worst struggles.....SLEEP. I really think that the issue was being tried, not laziness, but some may use these interchangeably. Saturday morning I was supposed to get up and get around 9 miles in, but I never even did one. Since I did not have a “running date” with anyone besides my husband (I will not call him an obstacle, but he has no problem sleeping instead of running =), I decided to sleep in after having stayed up late working on a few cakes.

So that's the problem, what is the solution? The thing that gets me through usually, though it did not on Saturday,  is remembering that getting my workout in gives me more energy, not less. Even yesterday I wanted to relax (nap if I could) instead of going to the gym. I had to talk myself into it knowing that I would actually feel better if I got some exercise in, and I was right. Don't get me wrong, the days I do a longer run, I usually need a nap since my body has not quite adjusted to those distances, but for the most part, exercise makes me feel good.

I know a lot of people who use the excuse that they don't have enough energy to exercise. Well guess what? You never will if you never do. Others say, by the time I get home I am too tired to workout. How about getting some exercise in and then sleeping like a baby that night??

Another hurdle for me is boredom. I do a lot of different workouts at the gym including running, spinning, swimming, Pilates and other classes, but there are still days, especially running days, when I get bored. Most of the time that happens when I am on the treadmill or running by myself outside. The solution should be simple for this one, but “easier said then done” I would say.

The best solution for me is to have a running buddy. I love to run with friends or my hubby. There is always something to talk about, someone to push you, and someone to make sure that you make it back alive! I know that there will be days when I will be running long distances alone, and quite frankly, that scares me!

Mixing up the routine is another obvious solution. Trying different classes helps at the gym, but when it comes to running, different routines are needed as well. There are days for long distances, days for speed work, and and days for cross-training. Mixing up my music helps a lot too and scenery is sometimes necessary as well. A few weeks ago I got to run out near the beach instead of the usual trail, and it was great. Six miles felt unusually short because it was so different.

Even as I write this, I can think of so many more obstacles that I face at times. My next few posts will be about some of them including time, pain or injury, taking care of the family, fear, money, and others that you or I think of along the way.