Comments on: What it is to be alive and not just to survive http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/ all signs point to no Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:32:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Becca http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-7014 Becca Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:36:56 +0000 http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-7014 I do that, Linda! There are park benches surrounding the oval where I run and I always pick a park bench and say I will just go to there. And then the one two benches beyond that, and then... Another thing I do is to say, "just till the end of this song." Then if I sense myself slowing just because it's the end of the song, I'll hit the Forward button 30 seconds before it ends so I'm tricked into the energetic beginning of the next song. It works! I do that, Linda! There are park benches surrounding the oval where I run and I always pick a park bench and say I will just go to there. And then the one two benches beyond that, and then…

Another thing I do is to say, “just till the end of this song.” Then if I sense myself slowing just because it’s the end of the song, I’ll hit the Forward button 30 seconds before it ends so I’m tricked into the energetic beginning of the next song. It works!

]]> By: Liidii/Valentia/Linda http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-7012 Liidii/Valentia/Linda Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:00:14 +0000 http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-7012 <blockquote>But I know it’s not going to be easy, but this post will really help me when I feel like quitting.</blockquote> If the truly worthwhile things were too easy, they wouldn't be all that worthwhile, right? :) What helps me most when I feel like quitting (other than the fact I'm usually just too damned stubborn to quit): Just pick some sort of short/quick/easy landmark. Run for it. It can be the next tree. The next telephone pole. The next guy with a red and green shirt. The next song on your iPod (and may I just quickly say DAMN the race officials who want to take my joy, power, and motivation from me Thank you. I feel better now.) :D Anyway, pick whatever landmark/goal you like. You MUST run until you finish it. You can do it. Really, you can do ANYTHING for a minute or three. Then, if you wish, you may stop running. You won't, though, unless you're sick, injured or just way exhausted, in which case you most certainly SHOULD stop. But odds are really, really good you'll run on at least a wee bit longer. And when you really DO have to stop, you'll do it with a big-ass grin on your face and a loud, internal "HELL, YEAH!" I cannot tell you how many miles these little head-games have pulled me through. :)

But I know it’s not going to be easy, but this post will really help me when I feel like quitting.

If the truly worthwhile things were too easy, they wouldn’t be all that worthwhile, right? :)

What helps me most when I feel like quitting (other than the fact I’m usually just too damned stubborn to quit): Just pick some sort of short/quick/easy landmark. Run for it. It can be the next tree. The next telephone pole. The next guy with a red and green shirt. The next song on your iPod (and may I just quickly say DAMN the race officials who want to take my joy, power, and motivation from me Thank you. I feel better now.) :D

Anyway, pick whatever landmark/goal you like. You MUST run until you finish it. You can do it. Really, you can do ANYTHING for a minute or three. Then, if you wish, you may stop running. You won’t, though, unless you’re sick, injured or just way exhausted, in which case you most certainly SHOULD stop. But odds are really, really good you’ll run on at least a wee bit longer. And when you really DO have to stop, you’ll do it with a big-ass grin on your face and a loud, internal “HELL, YEAH!”

I cannot tell you how many miles these little head-games have pulled me through. :)

]]> By: Becca http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6995 Becca Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:42:09 +0000 http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6995 Melanie, that's awesome! I really found that having this goal made the difference in getting over the "I can't run more than five minutes" hump. I know you're going to be able to do it. Melanie, that’s awesome! I really found that having this goal made the difference in getting over the “I can’t run more than five minutes” hump. I know you’re going to be able to do it.

]]> By: Melanie http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6994 Melanie Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:44:20 +0000 http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6994 Becca, I love this post. As you know, I'm doing Couch to 5k now, and I'm loving it. I've had a vision in my head of running the Komen race in Boston in September, and now that I'm officially registered to do it, I am even more excited and motivated. But I know it's not going to be easy, but this post will really help me when I feel like quitting. Becca, I love this post. As you know, I’m doing Couch to 5k now, and I’m loving it. I’ve had a vision in my head of running the Komen race in Boston in September, and now that I’m officially registered to do it, I am even more excited and motivated. But I know it’s not going to be easy, but this post will really help me when I feel like quitting.

]]> By: Becca http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6992 Becca Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:01:14 +0000 http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6992 kb, what a fantastic idea! I'm going to do that. Stay tuned. Of course, it will help a lot if you like 80's alternative music. Caren, I do that with lots of things, I can't even tell you. But that's the thing, you actually have to like doing it. Otherwise it's just a chore and no one wants to get up to do chores. Liid, you're very welcome! I had e-mailed you about it but I didn't know if you were checking your e-mail. I absolutely love "running is a dance forward." That is exactly how I feel and since I'm not the most graceful person on earth, it's an incredible thing to have. I'm glad you got that diamond from your Dad. That is really lovely. And THANK.YOU. I do feel like a runner. Amy, that was my favorite Led Zeppelin song for years and years! It may not go with my current running mix but I'm going to add it - thanks for the reminder. kb, what a fantastic idea! I’m going to do that. Stay tuned. Of course, it will help a lot if you like 80’s alternative music.

Caren, I do that with lots of things, I can’t even tell you. But that’s the thing, you actually have to like doing it. Otherwise it’s just a chore and no one wants to get up to do chores.

Liid, you’re very welcome! I had e-mailed you about it but I didn’t know if you were checking your e-mail. I absolutely love “running is a dance forward.” That is exactly how I feel and since I’m not the most graceful person on earth, it’s an incredible thing to have.

I’m glad you got that diamond from your Dad. That is really lovely.

And THANK.YOU. I do feel like a runner.

Amy, that was my favorite Led Zeppelin song for years and years! It may not go with my current running mix but I’m going to add it – thanks for the reminder.

]]> By: Amy http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6991 Amy Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:26:10 +0000 http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6991 My "push off" song was Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song. Then one day someone showed me the Viking kitty video on youtube. Now whenever I hear the song I have visions of kittens in horned helmets with axes. Tough to run when you have the giggles. Only time I listen to metal is while running, I think that is because it makes me feel tough and powerful when in fact I'm a wee woose Amy My “push off” song was Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song. Then one day someone showed me the Viking kitty video on youtube. Now whenever I hear the song I have visions of kittens in horned helmets with axes. Tough to run when you have the giggles. Only time I listen to metal is while running, I think that is because it makes me feel tough and powerful when in fact I’m a wee woose

Amy

]]> By: Liidii/Val/Linda http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6990 Liidii/Val/Linda Sun, 16 Mar 2008 07:34:17 +0000 http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6990 In case anyone was wondering, yes, I did it, the music was a mix of The Rasmus and Eluveitie for w/u and c/d and one of Sean O'Malley's outstanding Cardio Coach workouts for the rest. Man, do I feel good and happy and sparkly inside. :) And I amused the hell out of the security guard who watched unknown by me (until he giggled) as I did a funky little pirouette thingy through a rain puddle as I boppped down the outside walkway to our suite. He gave me a "you're geekycool" thumbs-up as I passed. Life is good. :D In case anyone was wondering, yes, I did it, the music was a mix of The Rasmus and Eluveitie for w/u and c/d and one of Sean O’Malley’s outstanding Cardio Coach workouts for the rest. Man, do I feel good and happy and sparkly inside. :)

And I amused the hell out of the security guard who watched unknown by me (until he giggled) as I did a funky little pirouette thingy through a rain puddle as I boppped down the outside walkway to our suite. He gave me a “you’re geekycool” thumbs-up as I passed. Life is good. :D

]]> By: Liidii/Val/Linda http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6989 Liidii/Val/Linda Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:29:41 +0000 http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6989 Oh, and, Becca: YOU. ARE. A. RUNNER. I could see that a long time ago. :) Oh, and, Becca: YOU. ARE. A. RUNNER. I could see that a long time ago. :)

]]> By: Liidii/Val/Linda http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6988 Liidii/Val/Linda Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:26:36 +0000 http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6988 Becca, thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm so very moved by the dedication. That was really, really sweet of you to do, and means so much to me. We're back on our way home now, just hanging in the hotel and I thought I'd check my email and fave blogs. What a lovely surprise this was! Oh, the whole music/running connection! Well, you know I blog about that. Well, metal music/running, that is. For me, too, running is my deepest connection to music. I've said it a zillion times, both on the GDT and my blog: "Running is a dance forward." It brings me more bliss than I can possibly properly express, though I certainly keep trying to. :) You know what? It's late and I'm feeling lazy, but screw it. We've a locked-but-open-all-night hotel gym with several treadmills, and I'm going to go run hard there right now. (And yes, the music will be Finnish. :)) And around my neck, keeping my old little gold runner chick figurine company, is my new little heart with a diamond that my daddy left me, sparkling like the love he leaves me always. This one's for you, my darling Daddy. Off to kick ass. Becca, thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m so very moved by the dedication. That was really, really sweet of you to do, and means so much to me.

We’re back on our way home now, just hanging in the hotel and I thought I’d check my email and fave blogs. What a lovely surprise this was!

Oh, the whole music/running connection! Well, you know I blog about that. Well, metal music/running, that is. For me, too, running is my deepest connection to music. I’ve said it a zillion times, both on the GDT and my blog: “Running is a dance forward.” It brings me more bliss than I can possibly properly express, though I certainly keep trying to. :)

You know what? It’s late and I’m feeling lazy, but screw it. We’ve a locked-but-open-all-night hotel gym with several treadmills, and I’m going to go run hard there right now. (And yes, the music will be Finnish. :) )

And around my neck, keeping my old little gold runner chick figurine company, is my new little heart with a diamond that my daddy left me, sparkling like the love he leaves me always. This one’s for you, my darling Daddy. Off to kick ass.

]]> By: Caren http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6987 Caren Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:41:31 +0000 http://magicjewball.com/2008/03/12/what-it-is-to-be-alive-and-not-just-to-survive/#comment-6987 Every other year, I catch Ironman on TV, get all jacked up on the idea, set my alarm for the next morning - and inevitably hit snooze and mumble under my breath about those "crazy endorphin junkies," and go back to sleep. So the fact that you actually ENJOY running, well, hats off. Every other year, I catch Ironman on TV, get all jacked up on the idea, set my alarm for the next morning – and inevitably hit snooze and mumble under my breath about those “crazy endorphin junkies,” and go back to sleep.

So the fact that you actually ENJOY running, well, hats off.

]]>