Thursday, August 27, 2015

If Everyone Else Jumps, Will You Jump Too?

Have you ever gotten really comfortable with something?  Maybe there was a job, a relationship, something that was fun or made you feel good?  Everyone who knows me well knows that I am NOT a people person.  If you are my friend, then you probably made the first move.  Well, joining my local running group made me a tad more friendly.  I started getting out and (gasp) socializing!  I had a core group of BRFs (best running friends) and for the most part we had similar racing goals and paces (kind of).  And then, IT happened: marathon mania!!!

Why not?  It's only 26.2 miles right?  Everyone is doing it (You know, 10 of the 500 people in my running group).  They said, "Run for the Marines!"  "It will be fun!"  I'm sorry, what???  So I decided that I was going to run a marathon.  In true Natasha form, I immediately decided not to do it, and then to do it again, and then not to, and so on and so on.  I went out for a run and it was agonizing.  Making something that you love to do into something that you have to do is no good!  And by the way, why the f@%$ was I doing this again?

I realized that I was feeling a little left out and trying to hang on to my friends.  I feel like I finally got comfortable and the ground started to shift at my feet.  It highly likely that I will be living somewhere different at this time next year.  Everyone is marathoning or pregnant and I am so happy for them.  Still, I feel a little like the high school senior who's friends are all leaving to go to amazing out of state schools while I work at the local supermarket. 

As it turns out, I don't want to run a marathon.  I have a fitness goals of my own.  I intend to be fully shredded like Serena Williams someday in the very near future, and I am on my way.  So while I may not be down for 17 miles at 4:45 AM, I'm still down for 3-4 @ 6 or a walk and coffee at 9. Oh, and I still fully intend to accessorize to the fullest.  :)

XOXO,
Natasha