Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Workout Wednesday: No Excuses

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

Last weekend I went to my parents' cabin on Friday night.  I had partially packed on Thursday before going out for dinner with friends, and then finished packing on Friday morning.   Apparently it was NOT a good strategy to not pack things all at once.  I forgot some crucial things....

1.  I forgot my shoes.  I realized this as I was leaving the suburbs of the Twin Cities.  I did not feel like driving back into the cities, so I just sucked it up and bought a new pair.  Not ideal as I already have a new pair that I was planning to start wearing this month, but I guess those will get worn at a later time.

2.  When I started getting ready on Saturday morning, I realized I also forgot socks.  Seriously.  I borrowered some from my mom, but they were cotton.  Cotton is NOT good for running, let me tell you.  Cotton + new shoes + 10 miles is just really not a winning combination.

3.  I thought - fine, I have body glide, I will just put a ton on my feet.  Nope, no body glide.  That didn't make it into the suitcase either.  And my parents didn't have any vaseline.

4.  As if I didn't have enough stacked against me, I grabbed my iPod when I was heading out, only to find my iPod was completely dead

But you know what, I plodded head.  I grumbled for a bit and then headed out.  I was doing 2 5-mile loops, so luckily I was able to stop back for my charged iPod on my 2nd loop.

The point of this rambling 'Lisa is the worst packer' story is this - I had PLENTY of excuses not to run last weekend.  Plenty.  And a couple of years ago, I would have used ANY of these reasons not to run.  Heck, I would even use the fact that I forgot to bring a hair tie as an excuse to not go to the gym.

Not anymore.  I have become pretty darn determined and there really is not much that will keep me from running!

Are you good at talking yourself out of working out?  I used to be, but now when I start to talk myself out of running I tell myself, "You will never regret doing a run.  You will ALWAYS regret skipping a run."  That always seems to work and gets me out the door. 

20 comments:

Becky said...

Oh my gosh, you DID have the odds stacked against you - woo hip for still running!

I'm a pro at talking myself out of working out. Once I get the all clear though to work out from my doctor (with my knee) I'm going to set up a schedule. Amber helped me create one in Google docs at one point and writing it all down/out really helped keep me accountable!

(Or maybe I'll just write in my life planer!)

Happy hump day!

Carolina John said...

Nice! You really found a good way to make it all work out. That's the key.

I have a new mental challenge coming up. We're heading to savannah ga for the weekend and I told Kelley I would only workout once. Friday, saturday, and sunday, in the build phase for Ironman training when I'm supposed to workout 7 times over those days. 1 run is all i'm going to do. I might go crazy.

AshleyD said...

Way to go!

I've almost skipped the gym because I forgot a hair tie too, haha.

Stephany said...

Last week was my first time actually bringing my gym clothes with me to work so I could head straight to the gym afterwards. Only did this twice last week. One day I forgot my shoes, second day I forgot a sports bra. But I still worked out those two days (went back home for my shoes) so I think I'm getting better at not excusing myself from the gym due to other circumstances.

Way to go for you not skipping your workout, though! I don't know if I could have done it. ;) Kudos!

Nora said...

I am with you; I always regret not working out. I do my best to put on my workout clothes as soon as my work day is over so that I at least do something, even if it's just 20 minutes of weight lifting in our garage. It's not always easy though and lately I've been a slacker. Big time. I just created a new schedule for myself and it starts this weekend. I'm looking forward to it :)

Lauren @ Sassy Molassy said...

Nice work on getting the run in anyway. That's when you know how committed you are to something-you do it no matter what. I HATE forgetting my shoes or sports bra when I go to work and am planning to run afterward. I prob would have bought a new pair as well.

Erin from Hey, Soul Sister! said...

This post is SO true! Many of us choose to throw in the towel when we "forget" a workkout essential. It's rather inspiring to see that you NEVER gave u---despite ALL OF THE ODDS being stacked against you :) Yet another reason why I can always push myself to do physical activity when I'm trying to find a reason not to. "WHAT WOULD LISA DO??" Now I know that Lisa would get her butt up and run NO MATTER what went wrong with the pre-plans!! :)

Jess said...

As always, I am seriously impressed by your dedication!

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

i am still in the excuses stage. whoops

J said...

I hate when I leave stuff at home - I did that my last vacation! I packed all at once but I still forgot a ton of stuff!

Kelly (She Wears a Red Sox Cap) said...

Lol I totally packed for New York the same way- luckily it wasn't as terrible as your experience but since I go away a lot on the weekends, I have it down to a science... okay fine thats a massive lie- I forget SOMETHING every time I go to the Cape. I have bought socks at the sports store down the street more than once... oh boy. For me it really depends if I will give in to an excuse or not, based on whether I was looking for an excuse or it popped up haha

Amber said...

I love that you pushed through despite everything stacked up against you! I think sometimes I'm like that and other weeks (like this week) I just let any excuse I can think of get in the way of my workouts. For the most part I always get them in because I love them so I'm thinking weeks like this week happen because I NEED the break.

Maris (In Good Taste) said...

I find when I keep my motivation up, nothing stops me!

Abby said...

You poor thing! I get SO frustrated when I forget to pack things! But you pushed through, and I'm proud!

I didn't know that cotton socks were that bad for you!

Maybe that's why currently...I have neosporin slathered on my feet, and their wrapped in coband?? I have open cuts on the bottoms of my feet -- and they REALLY came to life when I get in the ocean this past weekend....:'(

I like your motivation comment about 'regretting not running'. I am going to say that tomrrow - because it's been REALY hard for me to get up and run before work lately!! I just don't have energy for some reason! I blame the heat?

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

I am VERY good at excuses when it comes to working out :/

missris said...

I could have made it through any of those obstacles EXCEPT the ipod. I haven't run without music in about ten years and I just don't think I could do it! On the rare occasion that my ipod is dead, I just plug it in to charge and wait 30 minutes to run. I have issues, haha.

Cherry Blossoms said...

Good advice! You are def my running role model. Perhaps, this is why you are my running coach! lol
I ran this morning at 5 and it felt great. So much better knowing I can come straight home after work. Now if only it would be nice outside in Phx to run.

Kyria @ Travel Spot said...

I think that you did good! I forgot socks once when I went to the gym. I had been planning on running. I tried to but it was too uncomfortable, so I did some biking and weight lifting instead. I mean, I was already there! Also, last weekend, on mile 1 of 6 my iPod stopped working. I actually had a really good run anyway. So, you are right when you say that you always regret not doing it and never regret doing it. Never.

Jeanie said...

I am very good at talking myself out of things I don't want to do. I admire you for doing them!

Jolene - EverydayFoodie said...

Good for you for talking yourself into a workout even when all the odds were stacked against you. That takes some willpower!