Faith

I’m not a religious person. I’ll get that out of the way right now. Faith is often associated with religion, but that’s or what I mean here. I’m thinking of the other meanings, more specifically that to have faith is to have trust.

Confidence in a person or thing

The obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc.

The observance of this obligation, fidelity to one’s promise, oath, allegiance, etc.

Dictionary.com

How does this fit into health and fitness? In lots of ways. Wellbeing encompasses both the body and the mind. When the mind and the body are in alignment there is health. Mind and body working together. There is trust in the process, that what you’re doing is for your greater good. 

Conversely when mind and body are at odds you have an internal struggle: “I want to lose weight so I’ll stop eating. Or I’ll make myself throw up”. That’s an extreme example. For me it is much more subtle: “I want to lose weight. But I want that beer and that ice cream. And I want to sit on the couch and watch Netflix”. 

That’s where I am right now. I’m on my second week of school vacation and I’ve gotten out to run once. I’ve spent a lot of time doing other things, so I haven’t been a total sloth, but I have been doing a lot of relaxing. And thinking that I should be working out and eating better. 

And then this morning this word popped into my head. Faith. Trust yourself. Have confidence in your abilities. 

This is not easy for me. I lean more towards “no” than “yes”. But I’m finding comfort in putting faith into something bigger than just me. I mean trusting that things will work out even when we can’t predict the outcome. We don’t know what’s going to happen, but we do our best anyway. We put our trust in ourselves and each other. We learn to open up instead of close off. We move past fear and realize our goals for ourselves. 

I signed up for a race this fall. I’m looking forward to it because it’s right in my own backyard and my cousin is running it too. She’s faster than I am, which is fine. I’m not interested in competing with her time-wise. What I do want for this race is to do the best I can. And that means the work starts now. Time to put my faith in the process. Overcome my fear (and couch potato tendencies). 

I’m in a time of transition. From a school year full of stress-filled work weeks to 8 weeks with a whole lot of not much planned. It can be a recipe for laziness and wasted time. And yes every vacation should have a little bit of that. But it’s also a wonderful opportunity that I don’t intend to squander. 

There are a lot of unknowns out there. Plenty of reason to be afraid. Change is difficult (and it doesn’t get easier the older you get). But it’s not impossible. Have some faith in yourself, the process, a Higher Power if that’s your thing, but don’t let fear hold you back. If not now, when?

ROTH

Currently…

 

Currently I am winding down another school year. I’m feeling tired and stressed and also hopeful and excited. My to-do list at home keeps getting longer as I say to myself “I’ll get to that after the school year is over”. The problem with that procrastinator mentality is that it doesn’t help me feel better and means that I might not get anything done at all.

Currently I have a dog who injured his paw and requires a lot of care. This has been an ongoing saga for a couple of weeks or so, but worsened yesterday. He started limping and seemed like he was in pain. So back to the vet he went and returned home with antibiotics, pain pills, and no more bandage. He needs extra TLC now and I hate that I’m in school all day and can’t keep my boy company.

Dio playing coy with the camera

Currently I have another dog whose new favorite thing is licking a spot on her leg. So she’s wrapped up and tied with a bow as well. And yes, her little sock does have kitties on it.

Currently I am eating soup and a bagel with cream cheese for lunch. And have been for a week. For weeks prior to this I was bringing yummy salads full of protein and colorful veggies, but have turned to comfort food while I try to manage all this stress in my life.

Currently I am not running. I’m also not swimming or riding my bike. Currently I am getting through this last week of work and then I will swim/bike/run. Really. I promise. I’ve got a rough plan for summer vacation. Last weekend I basically stayed close to my couch and my quilt. I know myself well enough to know that I need down time. The week before I was in Newport only to return home to dog injuries and STRESS. I also know that running is a wonderful stress reliever, but being away from my boy for any time longer than necessary would be more stressful. I feel this way even though I have a wonderful, caring, capable, husband at home who cares just as much as I do for our pups. Puppy guilt is real, people.

Currently I have a giant bag of iris plants and hostas from a co-worker pal. I’m not a gardener even though I fantasize about having a beautiful yard. I don’t want to do the work mostly because I don’t really know what I’m doing. I will put those plants in the ground this weekend though and hope for the best.

Currently I am giving myself a big ol’ break on all of this. I’m trying to figure out how to be kind to myself during this period of upheaval and transition. Sometimes everything feels like an uphill climb, but with every up there is also the easy downhill coast. I know I’m heading into that and I look forward to feeling the wind in my hair and the sun on my face.
Catch you on the flip side,

ROTH

Things I Learned in Newport

Cannon balls – Fort Adams

Flags for the World Cup Sailboat Race

I have no idea what this is

Who is that doggy in the window?

ME!

Race bib and T-shirt

Foggy Shoreline

Newport 10-Miler starting line

View from the race

My buddy Dulce

 

 1. I can watch a sail boat race and not have a clue what’s going on.

2. Don’t eat at a restaurant where the menu is full of spelling errors.

3. Be careful if you leave your car with a valet. You probably won’t get it quickly and end up stuck in traffic trying to get to your race on time. 

4. Don’t cram your bagel and peanut butter down your sauce box while stuck in traffic. It will not make your tummy happy.

5. Don’t tell yourself not to crap your pants during the race. That’s a sure-fire way to end up with a big turdy mess. (I did not crap my pants because I kept telling myself I was fine. Even though I was not fine). Mind over matter. Thinking positively really works in a a long run situation. Or any situation, really. I’ve heard lots of horror stories about pants-crapping, but never experienced it before. Not. Fun.

6. I so love running long distances. This race course was beautiful: miles of ocean, then mansions, then more ocean, then Fort Adams. There was a lot to keep me distracted from what was happening “down below”. 

7. I don’t have any other races on my calendar, so while distracting myself from my digestive issues I decided to spend my summer focusing on my new running group and building speed. Having fun. Meeting new people. Getting out of my comfort zone a little bit more.

8. I love being near the ocean. 

9. I will probably never find a race photo that I’m happy with. Why can’t I look like I’m flying through the air with an expression of determination and fire? Instead I look like I’m walking slowly and ready to fall over from exhaustion. 

10. Every time I go away I miss my family. And I’m always always always happy to be home again.
Til next time,

ROTH

10 Things You Don’t Know About Me

Here are 10 random facts about me.

1. Right now I have 2 dogs at home both with injured paws. 
2. I also have 4 hens, 1 of whom is broody and is currently sitting in broody jail. #jailbird
3. I am an introvert by nature. I don’t put myself out there, like ever. Except for now, on this blog, which is quite terrifying by the way.
4. I just joined a local running group. I’ve been wanting to do it for a while but I’m a bit shy (see #3). Honestly I’ve become bored with my same old routes and running by myself. So it’s time to shake things up a little and this group will be great motivation to keep running this summer.
5. I am running the Newport 10 miler on Sunday and I’m really looking forward to it. The course looks awesome. I’m not expecting anything spectacular performance-wise. My plan is to go out there and have a blast. Enjoy the sights and sounds. Take lots of photos and enjoy every minute of being at the ocean this weekend. 
6. After Newport, I have no races scheduled. Like bought and paid for and on my calendar. I have lots of ideas but I haven’t jumped in and signed up for anything yet. I’m currently thinking about doing the BAA (Boston Athletic Association) Distance Medley: 5k Blindfold Challenge, 10k on June 26th, and a half marathon October 9th. And/or a sprint triathlon July 24th and another one on my 46th birthday, and a Bike and Fly race August 20th. Or something else…Dang. I hate it when I’m indecisive. Perhaps I’ll find some races to do with my new running group…
7. I love crunchy salty snacks more than sweets. If given a choice I will pick the chips or crackers over a doughnut or Danish or brownie any day.
8. I am not good at gardening. I long for beautiful flower beds and herbs and home-grown veggies, but I basically suck at it. I tried growing herbs from seeds this spring and it didn’t really work out. But I won’t give up! I’ll keep trying and hopefully I’ll get something to grow that won’t get trampled by the dogs or eaten by the chickens. Whomp whomp.

   

   Dill and tarragon – aka chicken food

9. I’m re-reading the Harry Potter series again. I read them as they were released way back in the day, but not since then. I’ve let the movies take over my memory of the story, but the books are different (and way better) in really wonderful ways. I’m so glad I’m reading them again. I’m currently finishing up Prisoner of Azkaban. Next week: Goblet of Fire!
10. I usually make a summer reading list then completely ignore it. I think that is kind of like my race “schedule” -lots of ideas but then I like to see what pops up that looks interesting. Currently on my list: the rest of the Harry Potter books plus The Cursed Child (out in July), We Are Water by Wally Lamb, The Versions of Us by Laura Bennett, Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben, Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams, and probably some stuff for work (counseling, adolescents, deafness, transition, etc.), and maybe a good book about running and or nutrition.

Off to pack for Newport!!

xoxo

ROTH