Started my morning at 5am, meeting my favorite BAM running partners down at the levee. Mandy and I had 14 miles to get into the books today, and knowing it was going to be a hot one, I was so thankful for her company. And it was a hot one, but a good one. And I may have fallen into the river while going to the bathroom.

After my run, a hot soak with Lavender Epsom Salts, some foam rolling, and some lacrosse ball release I snuggled into my blanket with some coffee and read a few blogs. One of my regular blogs was talking about why we run, what drives us to continue to follow our dreams (when days like a hot long run we question what the hell we are doing) and it made me think a lot about why I run and how I stay motivated.

I’ve posted before about why I run, in addition to wanting to live a long healthy life and inspire my baby girls to do the same. But I continue to run long distances, because it brings me peace. It fixes me on the inside. When my life is hard, stressful, unfair, cruel, or just too damn hard, a long run has always allowed me to figure my head out, to take the time to listen to my heart and to pound the anger, the pain, or the fear out. And that motivates me to continue. It’s me against me. It’s me fixing me. It’s the only way for me sometimes.

Well before I go finish up my meal planning & prep, which included these yummy oven fajitas.

And catch up on my housework and go grocery shopping, here is a recap of my miles this week and next weeks plan:

This week:
Monday: CrossFit
Tuesday: CrossFit & 4 mile run
Wednesday: 7 mile run
Thursday: CrossFit
Friday: REST! Slept in!!
Saturday: Dirty Dash 5k!!
Sunday: Long Run 14 miles
Total Miles: 28.1 miles

Planned for Next Week:
Monday: CrossFit
Tuesday: CrossFit & 4 mile run
Wednesday: 7 mile run
Thursday: CrossFit & 4 mile run
Friday: REST!
Saturday: Aloha 5k
Sunday: Lake Lakamas Half Marathon
Total Planned Miles: 31.2 Miles