What Gets You Going?

I am NOT self-motivated. I am pretty sure I may have said I was in an interview or two. But tonight, I came to terms with this truth. I am in no way self-motivated. Other people motivate me. Does that make me people-motivated? Others-motivated?

In biking: Joel motivates me because he sucks. Sorry Joel! He can get on a bike and GO! I struggle with every physical activity I attempt, and he exceeds at every activity. Grrr. But, it IS motivation.

In school: Kids are my motivation. I certainly don't do the crazy, time-consuming, albeit fun things I do because I enjoy overworking myself. That would just be sick.

In life: Our friends motivate me.....to clean! I love throwing parties, and I always overwork myself for the parties. I clean, cook, and decorate until I am delirious the night before because there is just never enough time. I really hope I don't do that to myself FOR myself. Again, sick!

In running: Amanda was my motivation to start running and to keep running, even though I hated it. More recently, Beth was my motivation as she asked for my help as she began the Couch to 5K program. Now, I have 2 more friends who have begun the C25K, who once said I inspired them. HA! Jill is on Week 5, and Jen just started this week and seems to be loving it!
So I was thinking, if I motivated them to run, perhaps I should run! You know, since it has been weeks since I last ran.
So, since tonight we had a break in the weirdly hot 95 degree temperatures and the flash floods this afternoon, I decided to get out there. For Jill and Jen.
OUCH! Now I remember why I should not skip running for so long, and try running like I used to...it hurts.
I ran for 20 minutes with a 5 minute warmup, and hurt the WHOLE time. Not fun. And to top it off...I ran through a seemingly harmless, run-of-the-mill patch of grass. Oh wait. Nope. Not grass. Mud. That I sank into, all the way up to my ankle. RUN OVER.
So....thanks for the motivation girls, but I wish my run would have gone as smoothly as yours have been!!

Two possible lessons here:
1) The universe is saying "Never run again."
2) The universe is saying "You shouldn't take such a long time between runs. It will hurt. And I
will get mud on you. "

I hear ya, universe.

I should explain...

While I still feel really strange saying "I'm writing a blog," I think I should explain the birth of said blog.
As I said in my "About Me" section, I have never been particularly athletic. I enjoyed the leisurely hike or bike ride, but nothing too strenuous. Team sports, nope. Running, definitely not.
As I got older, I chalked a lot of this reluctance up to my breathing problems I had when I did attempt something vigorous. For those who have never ran or biked with me, I sound like some sort of animal wheezing its way toward death! So, as the inevitable 20-something pounds began to find their way onto my body, I thought I should become more active. Because of the ridiculous, and at times, scary, panting, I figured I should stick with walking, hiking, and easy bike rides.
Enter my friend, Amanda. Amanda is one of those tall girls who make running look like a piece of cake. She's not like the crazy runner types in all kinds of spandex and sports bras and fancy heart monitors. She keeps it simple, in sweatpants and a cotton T-shirt, which I love! I was always vaguely envious of the Saturday morning races she ran in every week (while I was probably still in bed). I say "vaguely" because I'm the kind of person who enjoys the "idea" of great things like running or learning to knit (random, I know, but I just had this knitting conversation last night). However, I usually don't really like doing the actual work that goes into that great idea! It's easier to be jealous of people enjoying themselves, than to actually try something new...isn't that human nature though?
Amanda suddenly decided that she thought I could run. I laughed. A lot. Me, run? I can barely breathe walking up a big hill! After a lot of persuading on her part, she convinced me to start running with her. During the persuasion process, I had googled "new runners"and found a program called the Couch to 5K. It is a slow progression that gets you running a few minutes at a time, until you are able to run a 5K. I thought that sounded right for me.
Amanda had another idea. On our first run, she told me we were going to run 20 minutes straight. I don't know what was more surprising, Amanda thinking I could actually run for 20 minutes without walking (HA!) or the fact that I actually did it!! We kept running together, sometimes with her searching for the worst hills in the flattest of areas. I screamed hateful things at her (in my head they were screams, in real life they were gasps of protest). She pointed at the ground next to her and yelled "Get up here" while I trailed a half a block behind her. She told me to make myself small on hills. She tried to make small talk when I just wanted to die, in an attempt to take my mind off of the horrible, horrible experience of running.This does not sound pleasant. It wasn't, most of the time! But, Amanda made it easier!Before long, it was time for my first 5K. Agghh!!!

(You can barely see me in this picture, but it's the only one I have of my first 5K.)

This is a first!

The world of blogging is a new one to me, newer than the idea of me exercising for pleasure! I have always enjoyed writing, even as the nerdy junior high kid who "competed" in writing contests with my equally nerdy best friend. I think that this new forum will provide an outlet for my writing, as well as my protests against this new active lifestyle that's really putting a damper on my napping.
Some random, semi-interesting facts about me....
**I hate the new(ish) "text" talk that has taken over our society. LMAO and OMFG are killing my brain cells so, you will not see that junk on this blog! And if you do, please virtually slap me! (That being said, I do sometimes fall into the LOL and BRB habit while I am sucked up into the addictive evil that IS Facebook!)
**This little rant on language leads me to the fact that I am a new teacher this year. I teach elementary students who struggle with reading. I feel blessed to know that I am doing exactly what I was born to do. I love every minute of teaching, even when a kindergartener gives me a hug and asks, "you havin' a baby?" That's right. Even then.
**I am a freak about recycling. I even recycle toilet paper rolls. My students last year seemed slightly annoyed when I told them to "save a branch" and use the back side of their papers! One girl even gave me reusable grocery bag as a gift! She knew me well!
**My car has had its back bumper hanging off of it for over 5 years. I have been told it smells like feet and dead people. Virtually nothing works on it. I often have to rely on friends and the boyfriend to help me get gas when I inevitably run out. (The gas gauge is broken!) Why do I still have it? It's a love-hate relationship I have with my car. It's complicated.
**I overuse exclamation marks! Much like one of my favorite female sitcom characters, Elaine Benes!! (Any Seinfeld fans out there?) I have really toned it down here, but it's a real mind effort. (!!!)