I have always believed that our minds are our biggest road block to fitness. We sweat, we perceive we are over doing it. We breath heavy and we want to stop, etc. I spend a lot of time in my classes addressing that to clients to get them over the hump.

Boy did I need my own words today!

I decided last night that I would wake up early (on my day off) and run to the gym and back (9 miles total). I've done that run many times before. Well, my stomach was sour last night. And still feeling icky this morning. But I had it in my head to run so off I went.

Side note - I even finally found my lost ipod for this run!

It was not even 1 mile into the run and I stopped. Everything under the sun came into my mind as why I should stop and go home. My sour stomach, the wind (there wasn't any), the heat (72 degrees and cloudy), I wore my heavy shoes (on purpose for training for the 5k). I swear, had I not spent all those days encouraging others I would have hitched a ride home.

But I did it. The first half anyway. When I got to the gym, I actually did get sick, so I drove home in my bf's truck (thank God he was there).

I guess what I'm posting this for is to encourage everyone to practice positive self talk when facing that hump in exercise. Yeah, I got sick, but after a nice shower and a tall glass of water, I feel amazing.

GREAT POST!! I've been sitting here for the last 3 hours, chatting with my various virtual friends about weight loss, and now, after reading your daily inspirational post, I find myself feeling the need to walk...fast! I cannot run yet due to past knee surgery, but I'm hoping soon I will have lost enough weight to run w/ a knee brace. I think of exercise a metaphor for life. If you can coach yourself into running / walking that extra mile, if you can push /pull yourself up those steep hill / mountains, you are setting yourself up for a successful life. When you crest those huge hills, you can later look back and say, Hey, if I could climb that mountain, I can certainly do this (appy to whatever tough life scenario u like.) Anyway, I'm gonna go lace up my race walkin' shoes and hit the trail hard!!! Thanx for giving me the motivation to move it!!! Best wishes for continued successs....also sending virtual bottle of TUMS your way!!

Wonderful motivation - THANKS!!

I was feeling a bit of the "you can do this" this morning. I NEED to put something in my stomach before exercising in the morning, but I forgot. I went to a zumba class (high energy needed) without eating for 14 hours. After 15 minutes in the class I wanted to quit, but I didn't. I about talked myself into quitting at 30 minutes, but I said NO! I made it the whole hour. I felt more tired after working out than I ever have. But I did it!

Last Friday I didn't even plan to get to the gym, but my son pleaded with me to go to the gym (they have a great kidspace area) and seeing I had JUST enough time to get ready, I went.

But yes, it is sooooo easy to listen to the voices in the head of "you don't [I]have[I] to go!"

I have a non-stop positive self-talk dialog going on in my head as I run. If people could hear me, they would think I was crazy. I also do imaginary fist pumping LOL

See, I'd find this more inspiring if you weren't physically sick. Because I don't think it's admirable to exercise if you feel that sick. I don't think that's a mental block or a weakness that has to be gotten over. I think it's your body being sick, and your duty is to take care of it.

And I think the hard part is figuring out what is purely ungrounded fear & resistance, presenting itself as psychosomatic symptoms, and what is actual real illness that one ought to pay attention to, so one doesn't run sick or injured.

I was so inspired this weekend by a group of friends (one being my trainer at the gym) who completed a 210km bike ride over 2 days. They were riding to "Conquer Cancer". Here is a quote off one of her photos:

"There were quite a few people who quit during the race due to weather etc...I actually was able to talk to one lady who was about to quit...My words 'Don't Quit...people who are suffering from cancer cant quit...so we should not quit on this ride"......She kept going!!!"

This made me put things in perspective.

I was thinking this too. Of course, if you aren't sure if you are sick or not is different.

Great post OP...I so needed to hear that today, since I'm going to start running this afternoon (c25k). Great timing and great words of wisdom!

Saef, I really wasn't sure if I felt sick or not. I mean, I know I didn't feel great, but I wasn't running with the stomach flu.

My insides are sensitive (thanks Dad) and it's very common for me to need to use the bathroom after eating greasy foods. I hadn't eaten a super greasy meal last night, but looking back, my bf cooked the salmon in oil on the frying pan, so I guess I didn't give my tummy the benefit of the doubt.

I agree that one should not exercise while ill. But for the reason of not giving TMI, I used the word "sick" instead of the word crap.

Great job. Take care of yourself, but that's a great run!

It's crazy what you can do when you push yourself.