Get Up and Go

It is still hard to get up.

Even though my body clock prompts me to consciousness by 4:45am every morning, that still doesn’t make it easy to actually get myself upright. If I had my way, I’d lay in and savor the indulgence of pillows and blankets and the cat sleeping at my feet. The hum of the house just before dawn is the sound of sanctuary. Once I’m up – all bets are off. 

So I roll out of bed and dress while the coffee brews. I don’t think too much; I just press on to arrive at the appointed time and place I am expected by my running group. I often think I will get there early to get a little extra in before my “trainees” arrive, but I don’t. The truth is if it weren’t for them, I might talk myself out of tunning altogether. 

It is hard to both train myself and others who are all along the run/walk continuum, but I can’t excuse myself. I can’t even think the very slowest walker who only wants to cover a mile is going to hold me back because I know deep down, I wouldn’t be here but for her. So I am grateful for every brave and determined soul who shows up for a training session. 

I had time to get in a little extra mileage after our session this morning, and I still almost talked myself out of it. I need to get home. I need to get to work. I need to get on with my day. No, I needed to honor my intention to get stronger, faster, leaner. An extra 30 minutes was not going to derail my day, so I ran some more. 

The morning was fine and fair, and yet I haggled with myself over just how much more I would do the entire way. Instead of the well planned route I always take, I just ran. I ventured down unfamiliar streets, cris-crossed the golf course, took note of houses, flora and fauna I’d never noticed before. 

My intention was to do a little more than was comfortable, to do what would actually bring me closer to my goal instead of checking off an obligation. As always the ROI exceeded expectations. So why is it still so hard to get up?

 

 

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