Frosted Glory

I don’t know about any of you but the month of December was a drag for me.  Literally-I was dragging.  Every day I contemplated on calling in “unmotivated” to work.  But I’d muster up a few drops of energy I didn’t think I had and managed to shower and throw myself together for the sake of my co-workers.  It was rough.  I felt like I stomped through the month with my head down until I could see the bright light of the New Year.  And wouldn’t you know…I woke up on the first day of the year and STILL didn’t suddenly possess any more energy than I did the day before!  After discussing my need to add ginkgo biloba and ginseng to my daily vitamin regiment with co-workers, I found I wasn’t the only one suffering from a severe case of unmotivation.  Like me, everyone else said they “checked out” for the month of December and were slowing integrating themselves back into civilization.  I deduced some were having a harder time than others, hence the facial tics, drooling from the mouth and glazed over eyes I sympathetically observed.

I decided to slap myself back into reality (think about the Rocky theme song here).  I went for a short but painful run and figured I might as well try my hand at the art of water drinking too.  Twenty more days to go until I form a habit.  Yay for me.  Later in the week I wanted to share my aches and pains and asked my husband to come along for a jaunt too.  The weekend came and I thought I’d to shove my body into a state of shock by running five miles in seven degree weather.  My husband was concerned.  All of the ice on the roads coupled with my known  lack of coordination…he sensed a disaster brewing. 

I bundled up and was ready to conquer the road with my IPOD blaring in my ears.   “Let’s do this thing” I told myself…right after I told my husband if he didn’t see me in a few hours to come look for me-I was either laying in a ditch with a head injury from slipping or just frozen in place.  I ran slowly.  My lungs were burning a little but I was good.  I made it about two and a half miles, breathing in and out through both my nose and mouth to keep my face warm.  I had a few near misses that very nearly involved a broken right hip but I pulled through with my cat-like reflexes.  Throw in this new water drinking habit and all that goes along with it…and I really have to time my runs right if you know what I mean, not to mention I was frozen from the midsection down for three quarters of the run.  No feeling.  Numb.

Now I know what you are thinking… “She’s the runner on the side of the road in -10 degree weather that I shake my head at thinking I need to stop and tell her to have her head examined.”  Well.  I think those same thoughts about anyone who walks their dog when it’s blizzarding outside.  Thank you for not stopping to admonish me as it would be a real blow to my drive.

I return home after five miles and free from injury.  My husband looks at me as if he knows me…but just can’t quite place where he has seen me before.  The invisible peach fuzz on my face that he’s never noticed has a beautiful white coating of frost…my eyelashes, my eyebrows…frost.  He was speechless.  I was slightly mortified.  I smiled-and giggled as I wondered if he was comparing me to Grizzly Adams.

Is it worth it?  Trying to make changes to better your eating habits, exercise habits, trying to keep the spark alive, and follow through?  Man, let’s be honest, it can be a drag.  Sometime you want to toss in the towel or “check out”.  Those feelings are normal and you really have to work at it to make them temporary.  For all of you who are hanging in there, trying new things and pushing yourself to the limit…it is worth it.  It doesn’t go unnoticed.  When you change your habits your body notices and those around you do to.

Was it worth it???  Running in the freezing cold and seeing his face when saw me in all my frosted glory?  YOU BET!!!

What’s on your plate for this year?  Big plans?  Big bike race?  A 5K?  How about Race for the Cure?  Do you plan to hike to the top of five peaks in Montana?  Is this the year for a triathlon?  Is this the year you try to quit smoking?  Get off the Mountain Dew and Snickers bars?  Whatever your goal is expect growing pains…be realistic…and it is worth it.  No calling in unmotivated!

Good luck!