Wake Up. Run. Be Awesome.

I have been thinking about starting this blog for about a month, now.  Pretty much ever since I decided to run the marathon.  The only reason I hadn't started it yet was because I wanted to think of a good title for it.  My main reason for wanting to start the blog is that I am talking the ear off of my poor husband...who is being very patient and kind about it, but is probably SUPER sick of hearing about running.  (nice run-on sentence, eh?)  I feel like I need to share my thoughts and feelings about this whole physical and emotional process, and it's just not fair to him to make him listen to it all the time.  So that's what I will use this blog for.  I will have a more in-depth "how I got here" kind of post soon.  But for now, I will leave you with the story behind the title of this blog. 

Earlier this week I played volleyball for a couple of hours.  I had not played volleyball in years.  I felt great and had a great time, but the next morning, my right knee was hurting something fierce.  I worried that it would mean I had to give up my long run on Saturday.  Thankfully, Friday was my rest day, so I was able to give my knee some relief, but it still hurt all day long.  Then last night (Friday) I was up late attending an anniversary reception and didn't get home and settled in until midnight.  Also, Rick and the boys were gone on the Fathers and Sons campout, and he would not be home to watch the girls.  Those three factors together had me debating whether or not I would run this morning.  But last night, I decided that I would start my run, and then just run as far as I was feeling strong.  (I talked to Hannah about the possibility of my being on my run still when she and Kate got up, and she was fine with that.  She's so big now!)  So I set my alarm on my phone.  I titled the alarm "Wake up. Run. Be Awesome." 

When the alarm went off at 6:30 this morning, I again debated whether or not I should run.  Then I looked at my phone, saw the alarm title, and got out of bed.  Apparently I am highly motivated by the idea of being awesome.  ;)  I ran 7.17 miles this morning, my longest run yet.  I kept my standard long run pace of about 12 and a half minutes (which I will have to improve by the marathon), but I ran the whole thing (except for when I stopped and took a picture of the hot air balloons, and when I got a drink at the park at my half way point). I was proud of myself, and I'm feeling great.  As I was cooling down after my run, I thought about my alarm again.  And it occurred to me that it was the perfect title for this blog.  Wake up. Run. Be awesome.  I know that 7.17 miles is peanuts compared to a lot of people, but for me, it's awesome.  And that makes me happy.