“Slow progress is still progress”- Unknown
The last two weeks have simultaneously gone by extremely fast and slower than molasses. I don’t really know how to explain it, but the days fly by and tick along all at the same time.
What should have been my week 11 of training was a week of trying to figure out my new groove. Monday was a snowy day which meant doing an indoor instagram HIIT workout followed by walking on the treadmill. I did find a podcast that I really enjoyed listening to though! I have only listened to one episode, but I found it very real and entertaining to listen to: “Couple Things” by Shawn Johnson (yes, the amazing Olympian gymnast!!) and her husband Andrew East-check it out if you’re up for something light to listen to!
We also tried out the new Dairy Queen Cotton Candy Dipped cone…let me just say that this will most definitely be my go to all summer long, it was SO SO YUMMY!! I’ve always loved cotton candy ice cream so maybe its just a continuation of my 6 year old self coming out, but I would highly recommend!
Tuesday and Wednesday were weird days for me, I didn’t have the mindset to get a good workout in, so honestly, I just didn’t. I used to really have the mindset of “ugh I have to workout” and I’ve been trying really hard to make it something that I do for enjoyment and self-care rather than as a punishment for eating too many sweats. It has made a difference in my stress levels for sure, I don’t feel as angsty when I don’t workout if I allow myself to realize that it’s okay to just go for a walk, or take days off completely, especially during a world health pandemic. So, instead, I baked. This began the oatmeal choc chip cookie series that would continue through the next week. I think we made a batch that whipped out about 30 cookies, so with three people in the house trying to be somewhat conscious of our consumption we froze over half of them right away!
lol.
It was a good thought at the very least.
For the next week, each morning with coffee, my mom and I would proceed to sneak into the freezer, having 2 cookies with our coffee until the entire batch was no longer in the freezer, but rather in our bellies. I guess sometimes you just have to treat yourself, right?
Thursday I did a 2.4 mile interval run which didn’t feel great. I was disappointed with how painful it was after taking a few days off. I expected to feel great and fast since I hadn’t ran in four days, but that was not the case at all. This discouraged me for Friday, so I spent Friday busying myself with sending job applications out like a maniac and deep cleaning/redecorating anywhere I could. I went to bed Friday night with the mindset that Saturday would be a good run. It had to be! And it was supposed to be a beautiful day, so that meant NO EXCUSES!
Saturday was a good run.
I had anxiety about it, which isn’t a good thing and I shouldn’t have anxiety about going on a run, but I often do because I want to be successful. I set a goal of doing 5 miles, I didn’t care how it got done other than I needed to hit 3 miles before I allowed myself to stop. Well, I did. Both my mom and sister biked with me, which helped a lot. We traveled the entire outskirts of Sleepy Eye, and I made it to 3.8 before my first stop. It felt good. Not amazing, because it wasn’t 5, but good because it was more than 3. We continued on after that stop with a few longer intervals to hit 5. It felt good and I was content. Not ecstatic or thrilled, but not disappointed….just content.
Sunday was a day of walking and biking with the family, grilling outside, and soaking up every ounce of sunshine we could. I felt so grateful to be home and healthy with my family and in a space where we have a backyard to be in without worrying about social distancing with our neighbors. Sunday was a day of peace…and finishing off the frozen oatmeal cookies š
It was Sunday evening that I feel like I had a reality check sink in. I’ve been reading lots of books and watching some amazing acts of kindness happen all around the world everyday, I was realizing that this pandemic has the potential to change the way we live. Not only in the way that restaurants will serve their customers, but in the way that we treat one another, go about our daily work, and take time to do the things that really truly matter. While I was so hopeful and excited to take part in the infamous Grandma’s Marathon experience this June, I have come to the consensus that I, Josie Schieffert, am not in the head space to continue to push myself more than ever to be able to run those 13 miles in June. I decided that running for me right now needs to be a stress reliever, not something that adds to the stress I already have. For me, that means being able to run as many or as few miles as I am “up for” on each given day rather than forcing myself to run x amount on days where I feel like crap, and restricting myself to only run x amount of miles on days where I fill like a million bucks. So the next day, Monday April 20 would be the turn of a new mindset for me.
Although Monday wasn’t a day of running, it was another day of baking. I tried out a new recipe that used almond flour to make the most delicious brownies I’ve ever had!! Seriously people, they were so moist, so chocolaty, and gooey. 10/10 recommend. The recipe is just screenshots I took during one of my late night pinterest bouts, so I’ll toss em in here for you because YUM.
After Monday, what would’ve been week 12 consisting of 4.5 miles, 4 miles, and 9 miles, instead consisted of about 2-3 miles a day, sometimes all at once, and sometimes with intervals. I felt lighter. It was now relieving to run instead of feeling like a chore that my mom added to my list. Who would’ve thought? My new mantra for my running journey has morphed into “Slow progress is still progress”. After all, I still WILL run a half marathon at some point, that point just isn’t right now. And for now, I will push myself on days where I feel like pushing myself, and for those days that I don’t, I will do what I know I can, and I’m okay with that.
The middle of the week brought on the second batch of oatmeal cookies, and this time we made a DOUBLE batch. Why? I have no idea lol, but probably because a single batch simply evaporated into thin air after a matter of days lol. But right now, it all feels okay. In the midst of this pandemic, where people are experiencing things like never before, it all feels okay.
After a week of consistently running 2-3 miles a day, today, Monday of what would’ve been week 13, I can feel that this week will bring atleast one day of pushing to that 5 mile range, just because I want to and I know I can, and that’s okay too.
Know that wherever you are, whatever you are doing, right now…it is all okay.
Slow progress is indeed still progress.
Josie's Journey 