Keep Looking Up

Happy Spring

Wow, it felt great to be back on the line with a huddle of runners elbow to elbow. My first race of the year was a half marathon (13.1 miles) through the city of Syracuse. We had perfect weather in the 40s, cloudy and the rain held off just for the race.

Speedwork, fartlek workouts, negative split training runs are all necessary for me to run faster. I haven’t been getting this training in over the last several months so I took the pressure off on time or pace. I wore my watch but didn’t bother to start it or look at it. The goal for me today: talk kind to myself and appreciate that I get to run. 

 It was great to see everyone’s face. Smiles, laughter, shouts, and cheers filled the streets. I was with a pack of runners and wanted to stick with them. Keep looking up, keep your eyes ahead were some thoughts I kept repeating and when I got tired, keep going, keep freaking going! Once I cross the finish line this will all be gone, I want to keep up with the pack. That mantra kept coming up for me. Keep going, keep looking up and stay with the pack.

I kept a good attitude and my self-talk was kind the entire run! I didn’t beat myself up at all. I kept looking up. I kept my eyes ahead on the runners to stay with and on the runners to catch at the home stretch to the finish. When I crossed the finish I saw my High School Cross Country Coach handing out the medals! He placed it around my neck and gave me a big hug. What a great race and start to Spring.

Keep looking up. Keep going RWC! 

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Poem of the Day:

Keep looking up
Keep going
You get to run 
 
Keep your eyes fixed
On the runners back 
Stay with the pack 
The race is on 
 
Keep looking up
Keep going 
Your eyes ahead  
Spectators high fives
Silly signs 
and volunteers
Are all here! 

Keep looking up 
Keep going 
The finish is up ahead
You did it 
You made it  
You got to run