Why I stopped showing up to running group?

My running group is great.  I love being a Strutter as most of you can tell from my race pictures.  These people have come into my life and made it so much sunnier.  My Monday and Wedesdays have been filled with hanging out with these people until recently and maybe it’s time for a little transparency.

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There are a few explanations that I could offer here.  Let’s start with the easiest explanation: I was just injured.  It’s not that I don’t want to run but I just couldn’t.  It hurt.  It was painful and it kind of made me sad.  Being around a group of people who were out running would dampen my heart even more because I would have tried to run.  I wasn’t in the position to run but I would have been out there trying to log miles like the rest of the group.  Therefore, I thought it would be best if I kind of just did some other stuff.

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People probably thought I stopped showing up because I wasn’t running any races and I had no medals to show off.  I’m not that vain but I just wanted to throw it out there.  Yes, I love being able to show off my medals at GTS but that is definitely not the reason why I show up. Things were just hurting really bad

I thought maybe I needed a break from running.  This thing called running has kind of become my thing. People have stopped asking me how I’m doing and replaced it with, “what’s your next race?” I started to become one and the same with running which is fine with me BUT I really think it was an obstacle in my relationships with people.  It hindered my social relationships because like I already mentioned people would ask me things like that first and I was always gone.  I’m not really sure if I needed a break from running but I needed to know was I running to run or running because it has become my “thing.”

The crazy thing about being in the media (here, here, here and many more places) the whole world knows about my journey.  That kind of puts pressure on the journey a little bit.  I’m not the first person to want to run the 50 states (believe me, I know plenty of people doing and re-doing the 50 states thing) but I’m probably one of the few people in the country who has a spotlight on their journey.  Sometimes that’s a lot of pressure to keep going, keep saving money, keep collecting states and just to keep running.

Everyone thinks this quest is completely paid for but for the most part I’ve paid every single dime of travel and most entry fees.  I have been blessed with a few comp entry fees and some cheaper hotel rooms but those things are few and far between.  It’s literally a sacrifice that I am making and I just need to know that I’m doing it for the right reasons because it does take it’s toll on life.

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I have been fortunate enough to link up with Action For Healthy Kids/Team Healthy Kids to give some serious meaning to what I’m doing, so that helps out A LOT!  But there were a few things I needed to discover on my own.

Last year when I couldn’t run, it was horrible.  I was like a drug addict looking for the next high because I was just out of commission.  It was horrible.  I was moody, I was unhappy and I didn’t feel like myself. I wanted to run all the races and just be out there.

This time around with no running was a little different.  What I truly learned was that I just miss running.  I miss being able to be out there pounding the pavement.  Before I missed the races but now I miss the actual activity of running.  I’ve had the time to think about it and this may just be what I need to continue on the quest to inspire people to do things people may or may not have told them are impossible.  I’m ready to raise some money for Team Healthy Kids and see this great country as long as my legs will let me.

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Yesterday, I went to running group and I ran with the actual group.  The run went better than I expected.  There was a little pain but nothing like what I experienced before.  I managed to eek out 4 miles and this morning I walking and able to tell you the tale.  I feel like I’m moving in a positive direction with a lot of things and hopefully is the start of some really great things.

Race Recap: Tobacco Road Marathon

Race Recap: Tobacco Road Marathon

I collected state #17 in North Carolina this weekend when I ran the Tobacco Road Marathon in Cary, NC. This was definitely a bucket list race for me from before I even started marathoning.  This was just a half marathon I wanted to complete but then I started running the 50 states and I knew this would be my North Carolina race.  The entire time I was running I couldn’t believe I was actually running the race. The only bad thing about this race was it happened on the day of the time change.  I had already lost an hour…

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#TourDeAngie: Weight loss and alcohol.

#TourDeAngie: Weight loss and alcohol.

Thursday night I made my trek to state #17, North Carolina, for the Tobacco Road Marathon which is tomorrow. I had a late flight and didn’t get to my hotel until after midnight because I lost an hour. Oh, did I forget to mention that I lost an hour and will lose another tomorrow due to DST? Oh well, at least the race starts later due to the time change. Yesterday I picked up my packet. I’m never available for first day packet pickup so I thought I should go. It was a small expo but it was nice. There…

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Want to run the Chicago Marathon with me?

Want to run the Chicago Marathon with me?

Have you ever wanted to run a marathon?  Here’s your chance.  I am looking for some motivated people to come run the Chicago Marathon with me in October.  Are you interested? Last year I ran the Chicago Marathon with Team Healthy Kids and I’ll be doing it again this year with Willie.  I really want to put together a team to run for a great cause.  Childhood obesity is a great risk to our country and I want to do something about it.  This is my way of making difference.  Do you want to make a difference with me? Willie…

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Race Recap: Snickers Marathon – Albany, GA

Race Recap: Snickers Marathon – Albany, GA

I ventured down some serious back roads to Albany, GA to capture state #16 on my marathon quest.  The destination was the Snickers Marathon and Half Marathon.  I decided on this race after finding out I wouldn’t be able to run the Georgia Marathon because I already signed up for another race.  I am so glad I double checked my calendar and decided to run this race. From my town, Albany is 10 hrs and not really a convient place to fly.  There are no airports within two hours of this place so I thought it would be best to…

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#TourdeAngie resumes with Snickers

#TourdeAngie resumes with Snickers

Hello all! I think I am ready to make my return to blogging. I have been going through a lot of things lately but I think I need to just come back. There will never be a right time and my mind will never really be free of stress. These are probably the moments that I need to be blogging. Yesterday, I hit the road for Georgia. Thank goodness for having friends that live at the half way point of life. I was able to drive halfway yesterday and finish it up today. I will be making the full drive…

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Don’t put in the work; don’t …

Don’t put in the work; don’t expect a good result

Many of you are giving the “WTF” comments on my post about getting my run life together. This is a lesson that can be taken to every aspect of life so I wanted to explain to you why am I getting my run life together. I get where the WTF comments are coming from because you see me running all the time. That’s the thing, I am running all the time, but I’m not running consistently. Basically, I haven’t been putting in the work. I’m just going through the motions and that’s not what I want RIGHT now. I want…

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My week in recovery

My week in recovery

I’m probably being too cautious with my recovery but I don’t want to be injured again where I shouldn’t be running.  That’s a very scary things.  I felt like I lost my best friend and I don’t like losing my best friends.  It hurts and it’s sad.  No more sad faces in my life. Welcome to my week in recovery. So I’ve been really weird about my running.  I haven’t ran this week since I ran a lot last weekend.  I’m running the Austin Marathon in 3 weeks and I really want to do well.  Last year, I bailed out…

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Having fun at the Louisiana Marathon weekend

Having fun at the Louisiana Marathon weekend

It’s currently 2am and I can’t sleep.  I really thought I was going to sleep the whole night but I woke up around midnight and couldn’t go back to sleep.  I thought I should do some productive things so I packed up my stuff, uploaded some pictures and now I’m blogging.  Some people sleep well after a marathon, and then there’s me.  There’s no sleeping for me.  This is not news. The Louisiana Marathon weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the year.  There is just something about this race that I just can’t get over.  The atmosphere is…

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All about being on the TODAY show

All about being on the TODAY show

Hey all!  I hope you’re having a great day.  I’ve been busy since we returned from New York and I’m trying to get a handle on things.  I really want to clean up and get things ready for the New Year.  Just in case you didn’t get a chance to catch our segment on the Today Show you can watch it here. It was a really great experience being on the show. It was exciting to sit in the green room and see all the stars come through. Willie spotted Eva Longoria and I was happy to see America Ferrera.…

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On the TODAY Show & come a marathon with …

On the TODAY Show & come a marathon with me

Good morning and Happy Monday! It’s the first week of the New Year which means we turn those plans into actions. This is your time to shine. Don’t just talk about doing something; make it happen. Willie and I spent yesterday walking around NYC and enjoying the sights. It’s been a great way to start off the year and it has really made us think about things. This morning Willie and I are on the NBC Today Show in the 4th hour. Please take the time to watch and hear about our weight loss journey which has now turned into…

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