run, girl

A big shout-out and congratulations to my fab-u-lous Aunt Jacky for completing the NYC marathon this past weekend! I've always wanted to run a half-marathon and hopefully within the next few years I'll actually be able to make time to train and make it happen.

Since arriving in Dublin I've been trying to stave off the inevitable 500lbs of Irish food & drink I was likely to consume... I don't have a scale here so who knows if it's actually working or not. Regardless, I've been running more consistently than I have in a long time and it's been great. With the recent time-change I have a feeling my runs will be winding down, but we'll see what happens!

Some of the main running-related things I've learned over the past few months...

1) A low-quality run is better than no run. 

It is really easy to beat yourself up about a run that wasn't the best. Maybe it was slow or short or both, but hey, it's something. Getting this in my head has been really productive. Even if it's a 20 or 30 minute run, at least you're out there doing it! It all adds up in the long run.

2) The best runs are a result of sucking it up. 

I am really, really good at convincing myself of reasons that my bed is a more important place to be than, well, anywhere. I've learned that morning runs are not my thing, afternoons are way better for me. But sometimes after a long day of classes, or if the weather is bad, or if I'm just feeling like a big blob, it's so easy to give into the temptation of snacks and Netflix. Honestly though, some of my best runs have come from the days when I was feeling the least motivated... and *spoiler alert* I am so much more productive for the rest of the day. Sometimes you just have to put on your big girls pants and push yourself a little bit. 

3) Just do it you

I am really bad about comparing myself and my progress to others, and this can be really crippling. There are times I'd go for a run but deem it completely worthless because I was running 10 minute miles while there were girls out there running 7 minute miles and double the distance. After getting over the comparison thing, I've improved my experience so much. At the end of the day, this is a completely personal experience and at least I'm out there! (Sometimes I really do envy my dad & brother who could literally just run for days. Guess that gene skipped me.)