Dreadmill Beast

This weekend we're headed to Giddings to see PopPop and Granny (aka, Doug's dad and stepmom). I try *really* hard not to drive other people crazy with my training schedule. For those who "get it," I make no exceptions. For those who don't, I really try hard. I knew that we'd have a big weekend of model rockets, catfish feeding, and country things, so I decided to head to the gym for my last "long" run before the half. I convinced myself to run a 10k on the treadmill. I see these northern folks do it all the time. No sweat, right?

I dropped Lia off at Kids Club, found myself a treadmill, and staked my claim. I laced up my shoes, refilled my water bottle, got my towel all situated and couldn't.find.my.earbuds. At this point, I had no choice but to run. Child at kid care, missed window of opportunity to run elsewhere... I was screwed. Here we go with that mental toughness thing again...

So there I was, Great Day Houston on one TV and Fox and Friends on the TV off to my left. What I really wanted to watch was Fox and Friends and their discussions about the prayer breakfast, but it was at this wonky angle and it was making me off-kilter. Great Day Houston was talking about the Grammys. You know how many craps I give about the Grammys. Less than zero. Less than zero craps about Ed Sheeran or Sam Smith or whoever these dudes were. We listen to Christian music, The Beatles, and The Wheels on the Bus. Popular music is lost on me.

This, my friends. THIS is mental toughness. Paula Abdul on the gym radio (it's the way that you love me.. ooooooooooh, it's the way that you love me), random dudes I care nothing about on the TV, and 6.2 miles on a treadmill. I'm generally trying to drown myself out and telling the voice of doubt to shut up, but today? I would have given ANYTHING to get lost in my own head.

Fortunately, a friend showed up about 20 minutes before I finished. She mercifully left her earbuds in her bag and chatted it up with me while I finished my run. That's what friends are for. Even though the first 40+ minutes were TORTURE, I'm so glad I got this run in before heading out of town for the weekend. Now if I can survive 3 hours in the car in 5:00 Friday afternoon traffic with 2 little people, I'll have earned my mental toughness badge for the day. Carry on, friends!