18 is tough

ONE DAY, just merely thinking about blogging is going to generate a blog post. But, for now...it's getting me no where. I have honestly *thought* about blogging quite a bit over the last month. I know, that means nothing because I did not actually write a blog post for over a month.  So, what pushed me to actually write up a blog post today? A combination of inspiration from a professor I had in college (I looked her up today and discovered her amazing blog! Click Here for inspiration from a wonderful lady, Dr. Carolyn Weber) and I ran 18 miles today.

I ran 18 miles today. I ran 18 miles today! Holy crap. Let me first admit that I quit early. I was going for 20 miles, which might have been an unrealistic goal considering that the farthest I had run before today was 15 miles.  18 is good. And, 18 is tough. I had a good friend of mine confirm that. She has ran 18 miles many times. I believe her (not that I didn't before, but I admire her marathon training and know that she HAS TO know!). I have three weeks to go until I run the Chicago Marathon. 20 miles would have put me in a better position, but perhaps next week I will accomplish that feat.  If not, I will be fine. I'm pretty sure that I will finish. No doubt, I could have put a little more effort into my training. I could probably put a little more effort into a lot of things in my life if I wasn't stretched so thin.  What's that my Grandma used to say..."if you're going to sweep the floor half assed don't do it at all!" Luckily, I don't feel that I'm stretched so thin that I am "half-assing" anything...but you get the idea. Crunch time!

Happy Sunday. I got my run in before 11am so I could watch football!

Motivation

I had originally planned on having a very successful training month during July, but in hindsight I realize that I was being a bit over ambitious, especially considering that my sister got married mid-month. However, I could have ran more than I did. I took two and a half weeks off.

I am now finding that I have a boat load of motivation. For starters, I am motivated by my two and a half week break. I know that I cannot do that again before my marathon on October 7. I have also found motivation in the fact that I signed up (on Instagram - totally official) to do 45 miles in July (#45milesinJuly) and actually made the comment that I would probably finish that feat in a few days. Well, the statement is true, but not because I was running 13-milers every week in July, but because I waited and am now coming down to the wire and want to make sure I follow through!

I have also been motivated lately by the Olympic athletes. It's hard not to be. They are so amazing and have worked so hard. When I think that I do not want to run or start to tell myself that it would be ok to stop early, I remind myself of them and all of their hard work. This is the same concept that I used for motivation previously, and still use. I went and watched my mom complete a full Ironman and I frequently tell myself that my mom did that, 10 miles is nothing! No distance I will run will be comparable to the Ironman, so it's guaranteed to work!

I am hoping for a much better August, no matter how busy I get. I have to get up to 20 miles. I will find a way to stay motivated throughout the month. Just a little over two months until marathon day. I'm considering creating a board of some sort like this one that I found. That, or writing inspirational quotes on my mirrors! Whatever it takes!!

Each person is different in terms of staying motivated. What motivates you?