Epic Fail or How I Learned to Not Procrastinate

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm - Winston Churchill

Today (02.19) would have marked my reentry into the world of road racing.  The Livestrong Austin Marathon/Half Marathon is going on as I write this blog.  BFF and I signed up for this race almost a year ago and we planned on being ready for it.  For BFF, life got in the way of training.  I, on the other hand, have no legitimate excuse.  It's a major disappointment and I feel like I have let myself down.  But in true Valeka fashion, I am choosing to look at the positive side of this.  Every time I see this shirt (because it and my race number are hanging on my bedroom wall) I will remember that I wasn't ready to commit myself to this race and that I WILL do a half marathon again because I love them, blisters and all.   

I am using this failure as motivation for my next success.  I didn't have a game plan in place to get ready for the Livestrong race.  I didn't eat as well as I could have or get the proper work outs in.  I didn't set up a training schedule to prepare my body.  I don't plan on repeating this mistake.  Aside from this being a waste of money (and I HATE to waste money) this was necessary for me.  It showed me that while I thought I was committed, I really wasn't.  I put off what I needed to do instead of starting immediately and putting my whole self into it.  Procrastination.  One of my Achilles's heels (is it possible to have TWO Achilles's heels?  It must be because I have two, procrastination being one of them).

I am going to start running again - screw the walking.  I've been walking consistently and am up to about three miles a day.  I have lost a little more weight.  I am eating right and I'm taking some great supplements to keep everything in check.  I need to get more weight off of my body before I start the "real" running so I can avoid injury.  I've always been a smart runner and I'm not going to risk hurting myself by jumping in before my body is ready.

The beauty of failure is that there is no where to go but back up.  It wasn't my time to run a race but it will be again because I have learned my lesson.  And I don't like failing.  And, most importantly, I don't want to let myself down again.

Happy Trails,

Valeka