Shirlington Extreme Running Team

I am not really motivated by pressure or competition. Fortunately for me at work, my bosses know this and try to motivate me in other ways. They tell me when I did a good job, let me be pretty independent, set my own schedule and try to give me projects that I really want.

When it comes to running though, I just have to wait until my body wants to run again. Then, once I finally feel that way again, I will be able to log long miles and be really happy doing it. I really wanted to run when I hurt my foot and sadly for the past few weeks haven't wanted to do much of anything. Some of it is the heat, and some of it is just finally settling into a life in DC again and wanting to enjoy it -- without feeling like running is getting in the way.

My lack of motivation is starting to stress me out (which I wish would motivate me to get off my couch!) as I'm bumping up against training milestones I need to hit. It's like I can't get back to the point where I was a few months ago when running really made me happy. It sort of feels like a chore right now. But, it does make me feel good that the two readers of this blog agree that I should take a little break :)

So, I decided today, after me personally driving at over 40 hours the past two weeks that I'd give myself one more couch night and one more day off today. Then tomorrow, no more laziness. I even made myself a grocery list and meal menu for next week. The cure to running feeling like a chore probably isn't being lazy -- it probably is starting to eat healthy so I'm less tired and getting back into good shape. And, doing yoga again. I just need to get back into a running routine where I make it a priority. I know all the right things to do -- it is just so hard to do them.

Blah blah blah. In reasons why I am exhausted, I drove from DC to South Carolina, all over North Carolina and then back this week. I've also been eating southern food for two weeks straight. I tried to pace myself but being back in the south made me realize how much I missed it...and the amazing food. Life is just simpler down there.

Here's some delicious Carolina BBQ, fried okra + ranch dressing (my favorite!), green beans, and hush puppies:

And here's the Charlotte office view I got to experience on Thursday while waiting to interview a nearby housing authority. North Carolina is beautiful, but it's still got nothing on the great state of Alabama.

In an effort to try and motivate myself I also began researching more ultramarathons. For the life of me I cannot find a 50 miler in the spring which would be my preferred time. I found the Chicago Lakefront 50k which looks pretty good but doesn't have a 50 miler option in the spring. I'm going to keep searching and hopefully will find something!