#runningmantra

It was a busy weekend, and I really haven't been on my computer much - so here it is!

May 24th - Yoga

May 25th - Running Mantra - I say this all the time, especially if I am having a hard time with the course or my head wants me to give up. It really does help!

May 26th - Sunset on a Run

Then for today's May 27th - Favorite Race Bib - So far it would have to be the Pittsburgh Half Marathon Bib - I love how it has my name on it and that was one of the biggest races I have done so far!

This is my new mantra I thought of today while running. "Leave it all out here, don't take it home." Bad thoughts, calories, extra weight, negativity--leave it all out on the trail, because you don't want to bring that stuff back home with you. Leave everything you have there...and you will feel 100 times better when you finish.

Today we did 6 miles...the first half was brutal, the second half felt awesome. The first half I had a killer cramp on my left side for the first mile and a half...and should have probably stopped, but we stopped at 3 miles to walk it out a bit. That helped tremendously and we were able to gain speed on the way back, finishing in 55:48.

Sometimes I think it's better to just stop and talk and catch your breath--especially with this humidity--rather than just getting progressively slower. Without the walking around mile 3, I would not have been able to keep pace.

The humidity kills me, but I know that when I'm doing the 100 on 100 race in August, I will be glad I did all of these long runs outside. Phewf. Really have to mentally prepare for that--almost a month away!

I'd like to thank my running buddy, Christie, FUN., Kelly Clarkson and Imagine Dragons for helping me bring this one home today.

This is the article on Runners World that inspired the title of this blog. I found it to be very helpful and I hope that it can do the same for you!