You all had a lot of good comments to my last post (and I thank you!).
I think Vickie nailed it when she said "Maybe what you need a break from is competition. You still want to be fit and healthy, meaning you still want to exercise, but maybe the stress of everyday life and trying to fit in workouts to meet your goals is too much right now. Maybe a scaled back approach would work best for a while."
This car issue is consuming a lot of my attention and energy. When I figure out what I want to get and actually buy it, I will probably feel a lot less stressed. I'd love to be able to buy the first thing that met my criteria, but since I wasn't in the market for a new car until recently, I haven't figure out what my criteria are! I need a few weeks to figure that out and then which cars meet my needs. So this distraction isn't going away for awhile.
Meanwhile, the pressure of shooting for a 10K PR in early May is too much for me right now. And thinking of anything beyond that make me want to curl up in the fetal position.
So, how can I scale things back?
How about...doing the 5K instead, possibly with Daughter (almost convinced her). Yeah, that sounds better.
Oh, and I've had a run buddy the last two times I've run with group. That was nice. To top it off, I didn't bring my Garmin to my run on Tuesday. Less data + a run buddy = less pressure + more fun.
Final thought - even though the Dash-Splash-Push is just days away, I haven't been in the water for a few weeks, my back is still iffy, and my push-up progress is stalled - I'm not stressed at all about the event.
Why is that?
Maybe because it's a quirky little event and never seemed like something to take too seriously.
That's what I need in my life. Fun events that I don't take too seriously. Clearly, that's what keeps me happy.
Sounds like you have some great ideas to keep yourself on the happy side of running.
ReplyDeleteWell, it sounds like you're working all this stuff out. Sometimes it's nice to vent and then process. I'm glad you are cutting yourself some slack. Get out there, run, swim, do push ups, and have FUN!!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're feeling better. A few weeks ago I was beating myself up over missing a training run. I remembered I'm training to finish, not win, training schedules don't take life into account. You know what's best for you. Good luck with the car thing. For what it's worth, I just got a Honda Fit and really like it.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas! Sometimes it really helps to think out loud... sounds like you know what you want and need to do!
ReplyDeleteI think your new perspective sounds great. Have Fun!
ReplyDeletei like your way of thinking (because it's how i think too). I don't stress out about events because i'm happy enough to be healthy enough to be out there. i was at a point in my life where I was 22 years old, already a mother, and couldn't have a bath by myself for fear of drowning if I have a seizure. I don't place a high level of stress on events, I just do them because I can and enjoy them. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, change things up. Forget about PR's and all that for awhile. Just have some FUN. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteGreat attitude! I think it is hard for us to remember sometime that this is RECREATION and we do it for fun!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a pretty awesome change in perspective. I love it :-)
ReplyDeleteI've been a lurker for awhile but decided I should start commenting =).
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that the pressure of getting a PR is sometimes too much.
I would love to go out for a run with Geoff (my Garmin) and just enjoy being out there. Maybe someday I'll be able to let the "must see pace at all times" part of me go and leave Geoff at home =).
Sounds like you've got a better grip on things.
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the car. Our old car is a 15 year old Jeep that will need to be replaced sometime soonish. I keep telling myself that I need to figure out what we want so that when it dies we are ready. I'm so not motivated to do it though, so sometime in the not too distant future, you'll all be hearing me stress about what will fill our needs LOL.
MCM Mama
Vickie gives really good advice. Keep it fun and enjoy it no matter how you perform.
ReplyDeletegood on ya for getting a good perspective.
ReplyDeleteBuy a Ford. They're the only ones not sucking off the Bail-Out bottle.
i am all for fun events!!!
ReplyDeleteI say life is a fun event!!!
Good luck chica!!!
sounds like you know what to do :) just hang in there, relax, and have fun at the fun stuff!!
ReplyDeleteWOOT woot let's hear it for a happy lisa!!! I didn't race hardly at all the last few years because I got to worked up about and then running wasn't fun. I'm finding a balance now
ReplyDeleteless data = more fun, you are so right - when I t6ook the computer off my bike riding started being fun again. And fitness is a lifestyle not a chore, so it has to be fun!
ReplyDeleteFun events sound EXACTLY like what you need right now! Yahoo!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck with the splash-dash-push.
Love what you do! Do what you love! ;)
ReplyDeleteRun buddies are THE BEST. Glad you had one.
Lisa, we only compete against ourselves, "yourself" will not mind a break and maybe "it" wants some fun events too!
ReplyDeletea 5K with you daughter sounds awesome...hang tough, we can only do what we can do.
I'm sorry you've had a hard time recently. But, I think you are heading in the right direction. I took some time off, and it made all the difference. I started enjoying my workouts again and came back stronger.
ReplyDelete(btw-same exact thing happened to me with the car. I ended up getting a brand new car. I had been driving a 1988. After all the stress, I was so happy after I bought. No buyers remorse at all), and I didn't even know what I wanted.
I also get caught up in taking things too seriously but it IS ok and more rewarding to relax and have fun with life, although most times it's easier said then done so you *do* have to remind yourself from time to time..
ReplyDeleteYou sound like you feel better already, having made the decision to scale back. That takes all the pressure off. Just have some fun for a while. I'm betting things will fall into place eventually.
ReplyDelete