Tag Archives: I Am A Runner

Mind Over Matter …..

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At this point, I definitely consider myself an endurance athlete.  I’m a runner.  I’m a triathlete.  I’m an endurance athlete.  I run for fun.  I run to de-stress.  I run to be alone.  It’s no longer about fitness for me but rather something I need to do in order to be a healthy, happy person both physically and mentally. 

mom went running

Goals, tough races and new distances no longer scare me.  I’ve run enough miles in this body to know that I can do anything.  At anytime.  If I really want to do it.  And I’m not going to say that I always want to finish what I start but I can persevere over horrible conditions, and fatigue, and pain, and heat, and metal games.  As a result, life no longer scares me either.  I know that I can conquer anything.  I can persevere over horrible conditions, and fatigue, and pain, and the heat of life, and mental games.  I know that no matter how hard I am “punched”, I will still get back up to “fight the fight”, whatever the situation.  It really is mind over matter. 

Ever wonder if sometimes we maybe “think too much”?  I’ve noticed that when I stew over things too much then I really can make a mountain out of a mole hill.  I’ve also noticed that so many of the things that were so upsetting BEFORE I laced up my run shoes, are just no big deal once I’m a mile or two into a run.  Or maybe those “things” are just more manageable afterwards?  Who really knows or cares why running, or hard workouts, help us me cope better with life, but they do.  Maybe it’s the rush of endorphins.  Maybe it’s the quiet solitude.  Maybe it’s the fact that most of the blood in our body is rushing to our my muscles and it gives our my brain a bit of a reprieve.  Whatever the reason, we all I know that it just quiets the soul and takes the “bite” out of life. 

running is my prozac   

I’ve learned a lot from running.  I’ve learned even more from pushing past my comfort zone and tackling new distances that are not only hard but seem “almost” impossible.  Oh wait, nothing is impossible when I acknowledge that it’s mind over matter.  If I’m healthy, and strong, and ready, then I can do anything.  I will persevere over horrible conditions, and fatigue, and pain, and the heat of the battle, and the mental games.  It’s just mind over matter.

** Mind Over Matter ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Stronger…..

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Next week, on the 2nd, it will be 7 months since I tore the tendon in my foot.  I can just now …..finally…… say that I’m feeling stronger.  Not stronger than I was before the injury but strong enough.  I’m strong enough to make the run for Ragnar FL Keys with a full 12 person team.  I’m strong enough to run at least one 10 mile “long” run every weekend.  I’m strong enough to run a few hills.  I’m strong enough to start pushing the pace when I have fresh legs.  I’m strong enough to start thinking about the future and how I will achieve new goals for 2013.  I’m strong enough to let go of the injury.  I’m strong enough to be confident in my rehab.  I’m strong enough to once again believe that dreams are possible.

Strong Enough Smart Enough Brave Enough

Part of the process for me was giving myself 100% to rehab.  I needed help and my foot wasn’t the only issue,.  It was just the result of a lot of other “little” things being neglected for so long.  I still rehab once a week, whether I should still call it rehab, I know not, but I go in to be tortured once a week.  My foot is still a major issue although, it generally only hurts now after a period of immobility.  Mornings are not good.

Another big part of recovery was/is about being honest.  Being honest with myself.   Being honest with Dr. Alexis even when it didn’t/doesn’t make her happy.  Being honest about the pain.  Being honest about what was working.  Being honest about what wasn’t working. 

honesty_ghandi

I also had to be brave and have blind faith in the rehab. 

Be Brave

I had to believe.  I had to believe that it would work.  I had to believe that the doc knew what she was doing.  I had to believe that I would run again.  I had to believe that the doc was on MY side and WANTED ME TO RUN AGAIN.  I had to believe.  believe-in-yourself

Fortunately, it’s easy for me to believe. Running has always been a part of me for as long as I can remember.  I had a few short years where I lost my way but that was a few years over the course of my entire life.  I am a runner.  Nobody can take that away.  It doesn’t matter if I run fast or slow.  I am a runner.  It doesn’t matter if I cast running to the side for a few years.  I am a runner.  It doesn’t matter if I’m injured or healthy.  I am a runner.  It doesn’t matter if I’m overweight or ideal weight.  I am a runner.  It doesn’t matter if I race or just lollygag on the trails for fun.  I am a runner.  There was never a doubt in my mind ……. I knew I would come back to run again.  I am a runner.  Nobody can take that away.

I’m stronger now.  Strong enough to run. 

** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com **

I AM A RUNNER

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For those of you who have known me the majority of my life, there is no question to you that I am a runner.  I have always been a runner and, God willing, I will always be a runner.  There have been periods in my life where I have lost focus and/or was too busy livin’ the life just not able/willing to schedule fitness into my life but I was still a runner.    There are some people who met me during those nonproductive crazy times that think I have now “changed” and am obsessed, or even crazy, because I have running so high on my current priority list.  To those people, I say, I AM A RUNNER.

  • I do not have screaming children because I run; I run because I have screaming children.
  • I AM A RUNNER
  • I do not have a messy house because I run; I run because I have a messy house.
  • I AM A RUNNER
  • I do not need sanity because I run; I run because I need sanity.
  • I AM A RUNNER
  • I do not want to explore nature because I run; I run because I want to explore nature.
  • I AM A RUNNER
  • I do not appreciate life because I run; I run because I appreciate life.
  •  I AM A RUNNER
  •  I do not love my kids more than life because I run; I run because I love my kids more than life.
  • I AM A RUNNER
  • I do not attempt to stay calm, cool & collected because I run; I run because I want to stay calm, cool & collected.
  • I AM A RUNNER
  •  I do not view life as an adventure because I run; I run because I view life as an adventure.
  • I AM A RUNNER
  • I do not run because I TRI; I TRI because I run.
  • I AM A RUNNER
  • I do not run because I blog; I blog because I run.
  • I AM A RUNNER 

Yesterday I was a runner.  Today I am a runner.  Tomorrow I will be a runner.  I will run in the rain.  I will run in the snow.  I will run in the freezing temps.  I will run in the scorching heat.  I will run on my birthday.  I will run on Mother’s Day.  I will run on my anniversary.   I will run on vacation.  I AM A RUNNER.

Are you a runner too?  Do you have people in your life who will never understand WHY you run?  Or why you are a runner?  Who make fun of you and others in your life who run?  What would you like to say to all of those non-runners who don’t understand?

I.AM.A.RUNNER.                                                                                                                               Amanda – TooTallFritz