Running on Empty

Oh how I wish this was me today

Do you ever feel you are running on empty? I do at times and it is usually a sign that I am letting life get to the better of me.
Ironically, since I started my running streak on December 30, 2011 I am much healthier. I get less colds and when I do get sick I recover more quickly. That was until I went through a long string of colds that seemed to take over my body and I spiraled gloomily into despair. However, there was an answer. Vitamin D. Thank God during a routine physical my doc checked my Vitamin D levels, as long as other things, and discovered my levels dropped significantly. Since the only difference in my life was not consuming dairy, I attribute that my dietary changes may have been a factor...especially since I am running outside now more than ever and no, I am not the best sunscreen applier. I could improve in that game too.
Since I have been taking my daily D I am for the most part running with a full tank, and yes, my SOS Rehydrate helps keep me hydrated and ready for the next run and for life in general. But these past two weeks I have been feeling sluggish. And that is me letting life get to me. I am very good at accessing what I am doing wrong and have no problem pointing the finger right back at myself.
First, treadmill blahs. With so much running outside I am letting the treadmill blahs get the best of me -- especially on long run days. I am letting the "This is not going to be fun." take over and not doing a good job of thinking "Thank you God for this treadmill and letting me run long at home. Thank you God for giving me a way to get it done on Saturday so I can honor and glorify you on Sunday." I need to overcome the boredom and blahs!
Second, stress. Oh the stress! But in all reality, worrying about tomorrow isn't going to help today now is it? And don't fret about yesterday either. The past is, well, the past. Get over it. And yes, things happen in life that are stressful and that is ALWAYS going to be the case so suck it up buttercup, lace up those shoes, put on your happy face, and go out there and be happy! Managing stress is not new to me or my blog.
Third, chronic conditions. You may or may not have any chronic conditions but if you do, my heart goes out to you as I suffer from herpes outbreaks. It sounds simple enough but in the past couple years it has tormented me more -- enough to start a regular preventative program. The thing is, it is my stress indicator and yes, with increased stress came another outbreak. When this happens I just want to give myself a good talking to and tell myself that I need to really learn to chill as carrying too much stress within my heart and soul only leads to further misery. And it goes beyond the annoying outbreak but I feel it in muscle aches, increased fatigue, headache, and irritability. This go around I failed to recognize the red flags as I blamed hormones and that leads me to hormones.
Fourth, hormones. Hormones and your menstrual cycle can be an emotional and physical roller coaster -- one that can leave me wanting to just climb into bed or cuddle on the sofa with darling daughter, a good book, or a good show such as a chick flick or a cooking show. And yes, in the past two weeks we have been streaming a lot of The Next Food Network Star, Chopped, and Cupcake Wars.
Fifth, biting off more than you can chew. It is easy to try to be super mom, super employee, and super wife and take on the world but in all reality, I am just me. And sometimes I need help. Okay, every single day I need God's help and I frequently turn to Him for support and guidance. Good thing He is okay with non-stop praying and knocking on the door as I am always there but I am sure to toss in TONS of gratitude to balance out the "I need YOU's!". Thank you for the green light, thank you for easy crossing of the road on a scary intersection, thank you for the rain not being too bad, thank you for darling daughter having a great lesson, thank you for this food for dinner, thank you for forgiving me. So this week with non-stop demands on my time I had to draw the line. No, I can't go to that horse association meeting tonight as much as I would love to because I am making cookies for a bake sale for a pony club. It is a school night and I just can't commit to being up late and we have a school function tomorrow night.
With all this said and done, I am not sure how I am going to do with Saturday's long run with a pressing to do list after my run. Things that are shortened to make life easier. The bare necessities but still a bit longer than I would love. I would love to do errands tomorrow to free up Saturday but like I said, school function, so I will need to have faith and pray to God that I have the mental strength to find my strong, renew my optimistic nature, and run long Saturday....just as scheduled.
Who wants to give me a good kick in the butt to keep me focused?
Daily Gratitude: I am thankful for this quiet time as the cookie dough chills and that darling daughter is okay with an easy dinner, nachos, tonight.
Daily Bible Verse: Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think,yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”And the Lordsaid, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry outto him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Mancomes,will he find faith on the earth? ~ Luke 18:1-8