"This isn't the first time, and it won't be the last"

      Friday I had a spectacular run. My legs felt terrible, my stomach was about to explode, and it was warmer than the weather than I usually run in. No, I didn't feel awesome like I usually do, but this run wasn't great because of how I felt, it was great because of how I thought. I had a great internal conversation with myself, remembered some great times in my life, and came up with a new running/life mantra (you got it, the title!) . I found myself grinning from ear to ear a couple times. People we're probably thinking I was crazy, laughing and running like I was. Oh well.

                 One of the biggest things I thought about was how far I've come since this time last year. At exactly this moment in December 2010, I was probably freaking out over my chem 1 and calc exam, wondering how on earth I was going to pass each class. I was getting my first taste of finals week and the city-wide stress umbrella. I was just starting to run again after being injured almost all of last fall. Just to look at the contrast was cool in itself.

                But of course, the best thing to come out of the run was this: "This isn't the first time, and it won't be the last." This little quote can mean nothing or everything to you, depending on how you look at it. I take as saying "Look, things aren't looking too peachy these days, but you've been through it before, and it shows that you have the strength to do it again." It's great for both life and running. In life, you go through  peaks and valleys, and you have to remind yourself sometimes that whatever the case may be, you've most likely been through it before. And therefore, you can weather the storm again. In running, training is supposed to be the hard part. Racing is easy. You've been through it all before and probably up to 10 times worse. If you hit a rough spot in a race, bring up a memory of when you had the best race of your life or the hardest workout of your build-up. Also, know that you're strong  enough to do it again, because you survived it the first time. Confidence is key.

Lately I've been stressed out with exams and my legs have felt like lead. But this isn't the first time, and it sure as heck it won't be the last.