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RunningFool

Dumbo Double Dare Training - Week Three

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"Even if there were two of me, I still couldn't do all that has to be done. No matter what, though, I keep up my running. Running every day is a kind of lifeline for me, so I'm not going to lay off or quit just because I’m busy. If I used being busy as an excuse not to run, I'd never run again. I have only a few reasons to keep on running, and a truckload of them to quit. All I can do is keep those few reasons nicely polished." - Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

I remember years ago watching my mom come home from work, change into her gardening clothes, and spend the evening out puttering in her yard. She had a phenomenal back yard full of a variety of gorgeous plants and a small patio off the house where she could sit and relax. But she rarely stopped to sit; she was always busy with one project after another. No matter the other demands in her life, she always made time for her yard. It was her lifeline.

While I don’t share my mom’s green thumb and talent for gardening, I instead found my lifeline in running. For years like clockwork I ran Tuesday and Thursday evenings with friends and then took a long Sunday run with my Sunday Slugs running group. Having someone waiting for me took away my “I’m too busy” excuse and kept me out on the roads. Running kept me sane during an unhappy marriage, unexpected job changes, and eventually a move across the state as my marriage ended and job opportunities took me away from my hometown.

Eventually, away from the consistent schedule I had kept for so many years and without my running companions, I soon found myself ‘too busy’ to run. I had a challenging job, was finishing my undergraduate degree, and eventually, found happiness again with my partner Thomas. But something was always missing in my life and that was my running. Gradually, I started training again and attending some of the local running events; I was still ridiculously busy but it felt good to get out on the roads. I knew then that without running, I was missing the lifeline that helped keep me physically healthy and mentally sane.

There will always be days when it’s difficult to justify getting out and taking a run but I’ve found that even a short run increases my productivity and keeps me mentally sharper. I will probably never accomplish everything that needs to be done on the ‘life list’ but no matter what happens, running will always be an important part of wherever life may take me next.

Yesterday, after my Saturday morning run, I wandered back into my own backyard and in memory of my mom on this Mother’s Day weekend I planted a ‘Raspberry Shortcake’ bush by my own patio. Who knows – maybe that green thumb may be there after all.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the ‘mother runners’ on MousePlanet.com.


Welcome to Week Three of Dumbo Double Dare training. Remember, the additions of Barre3 and weight training are my own plan and are not part of the Galloway plan that I am following.

  • Monday - Barre3 (DVD)
  • Tuesday – 30 to 45 minutes running
  • Wednesday - weight training
  • Thursday - 30 to 45 minutes running (travel)
  • Friday - Barre3 (Studio)
  • Saturday – 5 mile run
  • Sunday – Rest (I’m going to be bad and will be running Rock n Roll Portland instead)

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Comments

  1. olegc's Avatar
    i am just reading these for some inspiration and what your experiences are - and I wondered if you were doing the galloway for experienced runners (I am on the beginning runners). I see that the mileage and timing is bumped different than mine. THanks for sharing your thoughts and experience - I need inspiration in a really bad way.
  2. RunningFool's Avatar
    Yes, I'm following the Dumbo Double Dare plan which is geared towards runners / walkers with at least six months experience. I'll ping you offline to talk a bit about inspiration.