Day two

I'm working on day two.  Day two of munching on Advil to try to alleviate the caffeine withdrawal headache.  Yes, I have been talking about cutting down on my Diet Soda habit for a while.  Notice I said 'cutting down'.  I did not say that I was quitting it totally.   I kept trying to 'cut down' but you know what?    That concept is so much more difficult to perfect.  I would 'cut down' until someone offered to go pick up fountain drinks for everyone at work.  I would 'cut down' until I sat down in a restaurant and the waiter would ask me what I wanted to drink.  I would 'cut down' until I was home and thirsty.   Ohhh, and I wouldn't really drink my water before hand...because I knew a Diet Soda was just around the corner of my life.

Years ago on one of my previous attempts (successful too...for quite some time) to give up soda, I didn't give it up totally.  I gave it up totally for a while to get past the slump of learning to live without. (aka withdrawal symptoms), but then I would treat myself in the evening by drinking a can of soda if and only if I had already drank more than the 100 ounces of water that I was drinking.   Normally eating out would have me ordering water.  But admittedly, there are some meals that I feel just NEEDS a diet pepsi. I'm sorry....pizza needs a soda. So my plan?   Make it a week or two and then be ok with a diet soda every once in a blue moon.  Not everyday.  Not even every week.  Every once in a blue moon.

I am proud of myself though.  Even with a headache from hell....or rather a headache from caffeine I still made it out the door and got in a 2.5 mile run.  It was slow and brutal.  It's gonna be slow and brutal because I have totally lacked any kind of discipline in running.  That HAS to change.  I have plans.....I have dreams...I have.  Oh heavens, I have a 5K coming up in 2.5 weeks.   Uhhhh yeah!  I did say 2.5 weeks.   I think this last minute training is NOT cool.  AT ALL.  Why do I do this to myself?  Really?   Oh well, no use trying to figure out why I have now done this for TWO races/runs.  It is what it is and I just have to get myself into running shape.....as much as possible.  At least this time I only have to prepare for a 3.1 mile run and not a 6.2 mile run.  ha ha ha    It won't be a fast run, but I will do it.   This same run in 2013 still stands as my PR that I strive to beat.  I had been running consistently....and my time showed it.   It's not a PR that is spectacular, but it is my number and I own it! (ironically, I think if my first 10K would have only been 3 miles I would have PR'd...ha ha ha.....why?  Because I had run utterly consistent and regimented for the months before that run.    Yes, I'm getting the idea....RUN.  Run regularly.  Run consistently.  Run diligently.  Just run!

So I don't know if I should be disgusted or somewhat proud. (Maybe the pride is from hanging around with my young nephew so much.....he would definitely be proud!).    So let me say that I never run with a tissue tucked in my pocket or anything like that.  A month or two ago I had a slight bloody nose while running (in the cold)  I thought about starting to run with a tissue tucked somewhere safe.  That never materialized.  And then I was out running today.  (And I apologize in advance for the next few sentences but hey...it was a bit traumatic and I must talk about it!  Therapy you know....)   I was running, and I could feel that I needed to blow my nose.  It kept getting worse.  LOTS worse.  I became fearful that if I breathed too heavily that a booger would dangle from my nostril. My left nostril if you are interested in really visualizing the complete picture.  I had no choice.  Really, none at all.  Don't be a hater......but I shot my first snot rocket.  Or maybe I should call it a booger bomb.  Yeah, that's disgusting....but I'm weirdly proud.  Yeah, I'm a loser.