I'm Not Quite Sure What I Was Thinking

Even though I've completed three half marathons, I would not consider myself a runner. Four years before having the triplets I completed my first half marathon. Two of my best friends are marathon runners and they inspired me. I never thought that I would be able to achieve such a feat. I was never an athlete in high school other than cheering my senior year and I had certainly never ran before. I hadn't even ran a single mile and never dreamed that I could run 13 miles. But, I did. I finished and I don't think I had ever been more proud of myself. Two years later I completed my second race. After the babies were born I needed some serious motivation to lose those extra pounds I had been holding onto and I also wanted that sense of accomplishment. I thought, if I can train and complete another race now that I have triplets, I can do anything! So, I did complete my third race in April but I was disappointed in myself. Yes, I did it and I was happy about that, but in the back of my mind I knew that I could have done better. I didn't train as hard as I could have. Now, again, I still do not consider myself a "runner". I like to refer to myself as a "shuffler". I shuffle and scoot along!! It's not even a jog. But, I don't want to be a shuffler anymore. I want to be a runner with a better finish time. I don't want to "just finish" again. So, after the race in April I was filled with motivation to do another race....and do it well. So, I have signed up for my fourth half marathon that will be held in November. As inspiration I bought a new Runners World magazine (a half marathon special edition!) and a cute new running top (nothing motivates me more than new clothes!). But, here's the truth. In my mind I'm very motivated, but my body? That's another story. For the past two weeks every night I tell myself that I'm going to get up early before everyone else and go out for a quick run. And you know what? I wake up and roll over and go back to sleep! Being a mother to triplets is exhausting. And I feel like I'm still making up for all of the lost sleep from when we first brought the babies home. So, I'm in serious need of motivation. It's down to the wire here. If I want to do better and get a better finish time I need to get serious. Like NOW. Oh, me and my big ideas....