Running and Dear Jane Quilts

Today I started the fifth week of my journey to get into shape and be able to run a 12k by May 2017. Mostly it’s going pretty well. I have discovered that I have the most problems behaving myself as far as eating right is concerned.

The holidays are not helping with this. I will freely admit to a major weakness as far as anything chocolate and/or peppermint is concerned. When something is both chocolate and peppermint, avoiding the temptation is a real uphill battle. That being said, I am doing really well getting in all of my workouts. I find that working out in the morning works best for me. If I put off working out until later in the day, it becomes a real struggle to get myself motivated.

Fortunately, my oldest, dear child that he is, found a way to help me get in my morning workouts. William is 16 and is a percussionist in the Lincoln High band. He worked full-time this summer as a life guard at Star City Shores, and is in the International Baccalaureate Program at his school. He also swims for the Lincoln High Swim team. (Do you think maybe he takes after his mother when it comes to trying to do everything?) I am of course very proud of him. Unfortunately, this incredibly busy schedule has not left him any free time to take driver’s ed, so he still doesn’t drive.

Normally this isn’t a problem, as he gets around really well on his bike. So how has he has found a way to help his mom get in her morning workouts? The LHS swim team meets after schools from 3-5:30. They also offer a morning practice for those serious over achievers. (Guess who falls into this category?) The upshot of this is that he has to be at school by 5:45am, and I don’t want him to ride his bike that early, so I have to get up too. Yuck!

Now I actually am a morning person, but as far as I am concerned that isn’t morning that is still night-time. By the time I get up and drive him to school (bearing in mind this is NE so it’s normally about 15 degrees out this time of year), I am wide awake and ready to work out when I get back to the house. The only draw back is I can’t sit down on the couch after 2 o’clock or I fall asleep.

I run/walk three days a week, lift weights three, and rest one. I’m up to running a little more than half of my 30-35 minute workout. I kind of thought that by this time I would hopefully be starting to feel that “runner’s high” that everyone talks about. You know that feeling of euphoria that suppose to kick in during your run (at this point I would settle for mild giddiness). Nope, not happening. The only feeling I get is the overwhelming feeling of joy and relief that I’m done running for the day.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the way it is making me feel overall. My pants are getting a little looser, and I definitely have more energy, but I can honestly say that I don’t really enjoy running. I think it is a lot like making a Dear Jane Quilt. You know the ones with all the millions of itty bitty little piecing. I am sure there are a few people who truly enjoy this type of quilt, but I think the majority make one because it looks cool. About half way through they start thinking “will this ever end” and when they are done, they experience that same feeling of overwhelming joy I have at the end of a run. They finally finished it, and they are never doing that again!

So how do I find the motivation to keep getting back on the treadmill? Mostly it’s because I told people that I will. The idea that others are watching and waiting to hear how it turns out really motivates me on the days I might not have enough energy to want to get moving. So thanks for all the support that I have been getting. I really appreciate it. I will keep getting on the treadmill and maybe one day I’ll even make a Dear Jane Quilt. Who knows stranger things have happened.

Dear Jane Quilt Pictured is from the 1863 Jane Stickle Quilt – Bennington Museum
Bennington, Sampler Quilt, 1863. Jane A. Stickle (1817-1896)