Been here before, not sticking around this time

I've been quiet lately. I go through these periods where I know I have a tenuous hold on staying healthy. Maybe it's that I've been not sleeping well, maybe it's work pressures/anxieties making their way into my personal life, maybe it's an intangible that I can't identify. I just know I've been going though it but I feel like I'm ready to shake it off.

It hasn't been all bad though. I ran a 5K last weekend with my friend -- it was his first -- and not only did we persevere through wind, torrential downpours, mud (as if I didn't get enough of that the weekend before), and a slippery trail I did something I never anticipated and will probably never do again. I PLACED!!!! Third in my age group! Okay, there were only 12 people in my division but I still placed! I have an award at HMF I want to go pick up because it's the first time I've gotten a award that every other participant didn't get also. It wasn't even a PR but I think because the weather was so bad and it was the inaugural 5K there weren't the usual hardcore runners. There were 350 people though. And I placed.

I love this picture of us finishing. You can see how drenched we were. My friend did not diss me, by the way, he high-fived me as soon as he realized my hand was up. He was in his own happy groove at the moment.



As weary as I am of being in heavy, wet clothes (seriously, last weekend was just as uncomfortable as the Mudder) I am signed up for the November Tough Mudder in NJ! I'm going back in! I'm really excited because a lot of people from Xfit who didn't do it the first time are signed up, including my dear friend Chris. Check out her blog, she inspires me with her words but I'm lucky enough to see her actions at Xfit and in life. The Mudder is still so far away but it will be here before we know it. I love that it's the same time of year as the NYC Marathon. I didn't enter the lottery this year because I'm doing the Goofy Challenge in January but I know I'd feel nostalgic and maybe a little sad that I wasn't doing it again in 2011. The Mudder will knock that right out of me. :) Plus I'll be with an amazing group of people who make me laugh, boost me up, and bring out the best in me. It doesn't get any better than that.

The official video for Tough Mudder VT was posted this week. I swear I've watched it 100 times and I get pumped up every time I do.



If I need to watch it 100 MORE times to snap out of this funk, I will. I was there. I did that! And I can do it again.