If you’ve read this blog more than, say, three days, you know I enjoy my cocktails.
I also enjoy my sleep.
When I was training for MCM, I finally got into the swing of morning workouts. And I LOVED getting into work already having my workout done.
Then I ran MCM and then Sandy hit. I was out of my apartment for a week and totally got out of the swing of things. Work got busy again, and working out wasn’t a priority.
I spent December starting to get into strength training on my own (fine, with the help of Jess) and running fell by the wayside.
But now, after some time off from running that was needed mentally and physically, I am ready.
I have goals. Starting with the D.C. Half, thanks to Gu, which is providing me with a bib in exchange for blogging about ingesting little foil packets while running. Done.
This is my cookie jar. No joke.
So tonight, I went to a work happy hour. I’ve been sick all week, and I still felt crappy this morning. I didn’t want to skip happy hour with my team, but I didn’t want to skip my run either.
I did something crazy.
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/tblanchfield/status/292084281793212417″]
This will never happen again. By the time I got home, it was 8:30. By the time I hopped on the treadmill, it was nearly 9. I busted out 3 miles (half > full training sometimes) and hopped off much happier.
I got a comment recently asking how I work out at night after a long day.
Because you gotta do what you gotta do, especially when goals are involved.
What sort of sacrifices do you make for your goals?
I run in the cold weather because I hate the treadmill.
@Sana: I feel the same way about the treadmill! I’ll only do it if I absolutely have to.
Are you running the NIke DC Half? If you are, I’ll see you there š Trying to get myself motivated for training too, did 4 on the treadmill tonight but also had to talk myself into it! Great job tonight, its tough to turn down happy hour drinks!
@Megan@Run Like a Grl: VERY tough to turn down happy hour drinks. Although being sick all week made it a bit easier. And no, doing RNR Half, not Nike.
Tonight was my work happy hour, too, and I drank water so I could make it to the 9:30 Soul Cycle class. I wish I could get into the habit of working out in the morning so that I didn’t have to drink water at happy hour, but I’m definitely not a morning person. That’s exciting that GU is sponsoring you for the DC half! The Vanilla Gu is one of my favorites. Good luck with training!
Work happy hour water for the win? I don’t totally drink the Soul Cycle kool-aid but would do a class w/you?
I had the exact same evening of “this has to get done so I’m doing it,” running 3.5 miles on a treadmill as part of my half-marathon training plan. They felt miserable but once I was done I felt so good and was glad I’d done my planned workout. I’ve let excuses get in the way of truly fulfilling training plans in the past, and I don’t want to do that this year, so I’m making my training workouts a priority!
I get up early and hit the gym before work and in my lunch break when I can so that I can still see my friends, family, boyfriend after work. I also try to only pick one late (drinking) weekend night so that I can get a longer workout or run in at least one weekend day. So impressed you stuck to water!
You are so right. You just DO it! People ask me that a lot–“How do you work out at 5am every morning?” Well, because I know working out is important to me, and I need to fit it in sometime…
Awesome job sticking to the water!! And the DC Half in exchange for Gu? I feel like it’s a win-win-win. And I normally sacrifice comfort to fulfill my goals. I don’t have a gym membership (all I DO is run, don’t lift weights so makes no sense) so more often than not I find myself running in cold… And rain.. And wind… And all that other stuff
I force myself out of bed at 4:30 or 5 every morning to run before work. It means having less of a social life and going to bed early but I am ok with that right now.
I am seriously struggling with this right now! Too much on the agenda and Ironman looming in the future…
Great job drinking your water! Do you think you’ll get back into morning workouts?
I am thinking of changing my work schedule to allow morning workout time.
Good luck!
I’d really like to get back into morning workouts and am trying!
when I get really busy with work, I run at 6AM, it sucks, I hate cold dark runs, but I gotta do what I gotta do when i don’t know when I’ll get home. Or I run a little bit at 9AM – A workout is a workout.
@Liana@RunToMunch: 9PM, not AM
When training for my first half marathon (gosh, it was a year ago right about now) and working for a boss who destroyed my will to live (I have since moved on to a more sane environment), I found myself leaving work at 9:30 p.m. with an 11-mile run on the agenda. Being a slow fat runner, I knew I was looking at almost three hours in the dark. But I did it. It’s in those moments when you realize your desire to be awesome is greater than your desire to be lazy.
Wow, that is definitely dedication!
Bravo for a late night run!
And fun that you kept it classy with H2O in a wine glass!!
Oh, yes, great post. Sacrifice is the reality of a marathoner! I need my sleep too, so I’d say Friday evenings are often sacrificed, or cut a little short… and I miss out on lazy Saturday morning family time. But it’s worth it!
I am positive most of my runs for this training cycle need to be in the morning so let me know whenever you want to meet up for a run! It’ll help me get out the door as well knowing I have to meet someone.
When the going get tough the tough get going, and drink water
Nice job at keeping at it. Although, I swear sometimes wine-dration worked better sometimes, at least for me…
This post definitely motivated me for tomorrow’s 19 miler. My runs haven’t gone so well lately so I’m driving somewhere else to run tomorrow for renewed motivation. Gotta do what you gotta do!
To stay in running shape and avoid treadmill boredom, I’ve been sure to continue running outside from time to time. Obviously weather can get in the way, but I’ve tried not to let the cold get in the way too much. A 12 degree run outside has been better than a treadmill run somedays.
my favorite exercise is running especially in the morning .
HA! Love that your cookie jar is NOT full of cookies! Made me smile. And yay for drinking water at happy hours. I’m usually the water drinker in my group. Love having a drink but also would usually rather do without. Saves cash and calories, plus I still have fun!
@Mollie @Sprinkles of Life: Oh I’m rarely the water person. Very rarely. But sometimes I just gotta do it.