The Take It and Run Thursday (TIaRT) theme for today from Runner's Lounge is TRANSITIONS. I've heard somewhere major stress in life are caused by transitions or living through through them. They say, some of the major transitions in life are life/death, new job, marriage/divorce, aging, moving, health and etc. In the past 6 months, I've gone through some big ones myself. I've moved cross country, got a new job, got married, moved to new town (that I'm not really crazy about) and blending two lives into one. And I have to tell you, it has not been an easy transition. (Especially figuring out the close space thing!) Leaving NYC was tough but moving to a small suburb outside San Francisco was even harder. The new job isn't that new because I was transferred within my company but still it's a new surrounding with new people - new challenges. (And, I'm not really crazy about this new job. Especially since I commute 50+ miles each way.) Getting married was stressful enough and now learning to live together has it's ups and downs. (Having a wonderful husband does help, though... ) Through it all, I ran. As a matter of fact, with all the different changes within the last six months or so, the only consistent thing in my life has been running. Maybe that's why I felt the need to train and run a marathon 5 days before the wedding. And why I continue to sign up for races. Maybe it's to keep me busy and distracted from life's issues. Maybe I need the endorphins to keep me going. It's been a tough six months, to say the least. I keep thinking the transition period is now over but something else keeps popping up. Maybe this is just life. But whatever it is, the running part has kept me SANE. I'm sure I'll have other challenges to look forward to and transitions. But let me tell you something, I know I will always have running to get me through it! As that saying goes: What doesn't kill you, will only make you stronger... AND I feel I've become very strong (physically & emotionally) in the last 6 months.
Last night's track workout kicked my butt. 3x 400s, 2x 800s and 3x 400s again. It doesn't sound that hard, I know! I was thinking, piece of cake. But it was! I averaged about 1:42 per lap (400) and it felt good!
I think it sounds hard!!! Any track workout with repeats in my books is the ultimate mental toughness test. Good for you!!! :) Do I hear Kanye West...?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! :) You give me hope that one day my life will be like yours :) ha ha, anyways, I love reading about how running has helped you through everything in life, I feel the same way! Glad it has always 'been' there for you!
ReplyDeleteKiller track workout! I never think that running on the track is going to bother me as much as a long run but I'm always fooled at the end.
ReplyDeleteIt really sounds like you're in a good place, and there's no doubt running has played a key factor in it. I just know you from reading your blog, but it sounds to me like you're living a great life. keep running, and I'm sure both will keep getting better.
I completely agree with your post! It's been good to have running as a constant through life's curveballs.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a good run to get refocused & centered :)
Yikes, definitely a transition period going on there. Glad you have running and blogging....cuz we look forward to your great posts.
ReplyDeleteJust wait.. ..then there came kids.... .. ha.. They're worth every second of transition though.
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Seriously you are running more repeats than me!! Way to go - that is really awesome and good work with the pacing!!
ReplyDeleteRunning keeps us all sane - SERIOUSLY! I cant wait for my run tonight! I need it!
Great post! I totally agree... through it all running keeps me sane. When i stopped running for about two years, i forgot how much it was apart of my life. Now that i'm back to running atleast 5 days a week, i can't imigine my life with out the 'endorphins' :)
ReplyDeleteSweet speed work! Nice job!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I like the "running through transitions" idea. I'm putting on my winter coat of body hair, so I'm trying to work through that...
;)
You ran a marathon five days before your wedding? You are awesome!
ReplyDeleteDang girl look at that track workout! Very nice!
ReplyDeleteYeah living together takes a bit to get used too LOL.
And to answer your question from yesterday BR shot is Bathroom Shot LMAO! I take them everywhere :P
WOW you have had a busy year!!! i love this post about how running is what kept you sane through it all... its so true! you are awesome!
ReplyDeleteGreat workout and awesome post too. Through these tough times you are growing as a person (and a married couple) and you are getting stronger every day - physically, emotionally and otherwise. You are proving that you are one tough cookie. Keep up the great work and keep on running!!
ReplyDeleteIt's great that running keeps your sane/makes you stronger! You can't find a better and healthier hobby. Yesssss.
ReplyDeleteWow. What a year!
ReplyDeleteI find that running is the thing that keeps me sane in my sometimes insane life. Without it, no doubt, I'd drink more :-))
Sorry about that commute 50+ minutes in the Bay Area...I'll be it's often the + :-((
My oh my, you HAVE had a lot going on! Kudos for keeping your head on straight.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an awesome post! You have been through a lot in the past 6 months. It is great that you had running to keep you grounded.
ReplyDeleteGreat track workout! And you're really an inspiration as you run through life's transitions. I can't help but notice as I read your blog that you're BUSY, and you manage to fit in fun stuff with all the work and commuting and running tons of miles-- it is a good reminder that keeping the run in there makes it easier to stay sane and energetic (well, you seem energetic, at least!). Love the post.
ReplyDeleteOh, and yes, I'm indeed not Indian-- my husband is, so that's why we had our wedding over there. I wish I had planned to run a marathon beforehand like you-- I could have really used the endurance and strength!
Great track workout!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading posts where people seem in a really good place. It makes me happy. :o)
you are one tought lady! that's a lot of transitions to go through in a year!!! and you're a total rockstar for running a marathon 5 days before getting married...I can't say I know any brides to be that would do that!!! :) and yes, I agree running keeps me sane as well!
ReplyDeleteAs you know from my post, I can totally relate! It gets easier -- it really does. Keep on running :-)
ReplyDeleteI too run because it keeps me sane and I am more confident and feel stronger both physically and mentally when I run.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. You certainly had a busy year.
Wow! A marathon 5 days before your wedding! That is so hardcore :)
ReplyDeletethose intervals ARE hard! track workouts always kick my butt. nice job on those!
ReplyDeleteisn't it funny how all those life stressors seem to happen at the same time?sounds like you have handled them in stride though (seriously no pun intended). I'm so glad i have an outlet in my running habit.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI have also had times where transitions bunched up on me. Ill never forget being diagonsed and treated for thyroid cancer in the month before my first child was born. That was both exciting and scary, but it all worked out fine. I am cancer free for nearly 10 years and I have an amazing daughter. Running definitely helped the coping.
I can totally relate to the move and new job and not *loving* where you live/work. I just went through that myself. It's nice you took up running as an outlet...altho I don't know where you find the time with that terrible commute!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the workout. I hear ya about all of the transitions. It is good that running keeps you going through it all. You have alot going on - the good thing is that you keep busy and seem to be doing fun things every weekend! Hopefully changes will come for the job front so that you are work happy!
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post Julianne. Running is a great way to cope with stress and change.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Running is close to the only thing that has been stable in my life for about the last four years. I really don't know how I would have got through the death of my grandmother whit whom I was extremely close to without running. I will never forget that one of the last things she ever said to me was how much she loved looking at the picture I gave her of me crossing the finish line at my first marathon. She always said the look on my face always cheered her up.
ReplyDeleteThat is definitely a lot of changes!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the interval!
Great job on the workouts!
ReplyDeleteRunning gives life continuity in the middle of so much change.
That workout sounds excellent. I am going to get into track workouts. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteyou and I have had similar years. I too, moved across country from Boston to Oregon (also not a fan of my new surroundings). I also got married in June 2007 (so over a year) and got a new job. All big changes. Running/exercise is also a constant in my life as well. I really hope you come up to my neck of the woods again sometime. Drinks or a run would be awesome!
ReplyDeleteYou did have a year, didn't you? It's great that running served as an anchor through it all.
ReplyDeleteGood on the track workout...those are the worst for me, so I'm always impressed, but you did great!
Oh my goodness, what a year! Very impressive though. So fun to see how running is everyone's "sanity".
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing this
ReplyDeleteand i htink your track workout sounds hard, lol
Kelly Turner
www.groundedfitness.com