Olympic Hopeful

While watching all the teams walk into the arena I remembered that I told myself this morning that I would run tonight.  How can I be an Olympic hopeful if I don't run.  I have skipped every run this week.  EVERY SINGLE ONE.  Even Ryan couldn't convince me I needed to go. 

A few things that need to be known about me and my running:
1. I am a slow runner.  At my best I was running maybe an 11 minute mile
2. In 2009 I was what I would classify myself as a "runner".  Running regularly, slowly building miles, running races, and in the best shape of my life (still only running about 11 min/mile)
3. Fell out of running almost as fast as I fell into it and have regretted it and have tried to become a runner ever since

The chubby girl inside of me has won every decision today.  Large Cherry Coke at lunch, cake at a meeting, popcorn and chips after work, extra helpings a dinner . . . and she was about to win another one when I realized at 9:30 I didn't run and the next commercial was one featuring Ryan Hall my favorite runner. 

Thoughts on tonight's run (in order):
1.  I'm just going to run for a few minutes so I can get back for more of the ceremony.
2. That cool house is for sale.  I have always like that house.
3.  Maybe I could go one more block
4.  I feel really fast right now. 
5.  I think I am going to add on my other route.  When I walk I will just cut it off and go home.
6.  I don't think I am going to walk.
7.  I wonder if they lit the torch yet?
8.  I really don't think I am going to walk . . . how about that.
9.  I wish I brought my phone and had been tracking my run.
10.  What am I going to do when I get home?
11.  There is the turn for the house.
12.  I think I have at least 2 blocks left in me.
13.  I'm done.

I didn't set any land speed records - 12 min/mile for a little over 2 miles. But I realized in that run that I have potential.  Even when I classified myself as a runner I always counted myself as a slow runner, I was slow because I never pushed myself to get faster.  Over the last few weeks I have been reading old Runner's World magazines that were never picked up except to move from the mailbox to the basket.  If I have picked up one things is that you will never get better/faster/run farther if you don't try to run faster or go farther.  My sole goal to this point is just to run again, but this run made me realize that to just be a runner again isn't enough - I want to be a better runner every week.  Whether it be more miles, better time, or run a race longer than 8K.  And I now know I am not really an early morning runner.  My miles are better run after Cade goes to bed, not trying to fit them in before he wakes up.  

We will see how long these lofty thoughts last.