Three Things Thursday ~ Naked Truth Edition

The WEATHER: 

It's hard to imagine that on Tuesday night LBM was running around outside in snow and last night he was running around outside in only his Crocs.  I'll spare you the second photo.

The RACE:

I haven't even picked out a race day outfit.  It's Thursday.

  Maybe that would make it too real for me. 

I am nervous, no. 

I am excited, no. 

I am scared sh**less, no. 

I'm going puke, well maybe. 

In this blogger world filled with so much confidence it's hard to be brutally honest but I need to be.  I'm a bit freaked out about the possibility of running 50 miles.  But I am even more freaked out about the possibility of not running 50 miles.  But mostly, I'm completely freaked out about what I am going to need want to do after I prove to myself that I CAN run 50 miles. 

The GOALS:

My I FINISHED goal: To arrive on time. To start. To finish.

aka: Finish Feeling Fine having Fun

I say this at each new race but it's true.  My biggest worry is getting to the race start.  Because as you now know, I am geographically challenged.  I have a card. It's a club.  This time I will be meeting Hubbs at the hotel and he and kids ~ all three of them ~ will be hopefully able to be at the finish line.

My I CAN goal: Finish in 10:30 - 10:45.

This goal is a hard one.  I have never ran on these trails.  I have never gone this distance in one day.  I know the course is technically challenging but I have done the 2 5+ hours training runs (aka my 6ish hour 50ks) and that is a requirement so I'm told for being able to complete a 50 miler.  I feel as ready as I can be.  So based off of my most technical course I set a goal range.  The lower end of this goal is to account for more experience and better training.  The higher end is a bit of reality that so many things can happen over the distance.  I hopefully can make this goal. 

 

My I LOVE IT goal: To finish near 10 hours.

Meeting this goal would be beyond amazing.  This time would ensure snotty-nosed finish line photos from all the tears I would be crying.

My I DREAM IT goal: Under 10 hours.

As I often say, on any given day you just don't know what you are capable of until you amaze yourself doing it. I will take all the positive experience I can from this race and it's runners and volunteers no matter how my body chooses to perform on Saturday.

Thought Full Thursday ~ What's on the inside?

Like many of you, we have had a few storms lately.

The previous storm toppled a huge tree where I work.

It was a big surprise!

That tree was full of thick branches loaded with green leaves.

It's outward appearance gave no indication of what it was hiding within.

People are sometime like that too.

We put on a veneer of maybe what we think we are, or what we'd like to be and we present that as who we are.

My children in their often brutal honesty remind me that I am no stranger to attempting to portray what I want to be more than what I am.

Me to a friend in a lengthy conversation about kids and standards:  "Oh, people who lie just drive me crazy!  Why is it so hard for people to allow others to see them make a mistake or something.  Why lie about it?  I just tell the truth and if they don't like it...  Why can't we just be honest with eachother...."

Later....

S'ghetti girl:  "Mom.  Why did you say you don't lie?"

Me:  "What do you mean?"

S'ghetti girl:  "When you were talking with (friend)?

Me:  "Well, I don't think it was your conversation but I didn't say I don't lie.  I probably said I try not to lie."

S'ghetti girl:  "Nope.  You said you don't.  And you do."

Me:  "How do I lie?"

S'ghetti girl:  "Like when you tell (LBM) that the remote disappeared because you don't want him to have it. Or when you..."

Me:  "Ok.  Ok.  You're right.  But I meant to tell (friend) that I TRY not to lie."

Day# 144

That conversation just got me thinking about what else I might think I say or do and fall short or misrepresent.  Here in bloggy world you have only my words to come to know me.

Of course we all attempt to relay the best possible version of ourselves.

I wonder sometimes, how much we'd all like each other if for one day we were all as honest as children?

Do your children ever help you notice short comings in your own personal journey?

Tell me about it.

Proverbs 12:17A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies.