Day 3 - My Hero within

I'll have to admit, yesterday was pretty brutal.  I live in a two story house and going up and down stairs has not been too fun.  Thank the Lord for Advil ( ibuprofen )!  Consult your doctor before taking this, but a fun factoid is that ibuprofen helps with inflammation and it has helped overcome the pain I've been having in my legs.  Four regular strength (200mg) ibuprofen is equal to one prescription strength ibuprofen.  Thanks to my mother whom was a nurse for many years for teaching me that one.  

Aside from the pain,  I got up this morning in good spirits this wonderful morning.  I normally keep my phone right by the bed, and I checked my email shortly after waking up.  I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and I received some great news about a project I'm working on.  So that really helped motivate me and I went from dreading today's run to being excited about it.  It's no shock that good news is motivating.  It also reminded me that I need to get my mind right each morning before I go for my run.  

As I was getting ready to go out in the freezing cold, to give my legs another pounding.  I started to think about why I liked Green Lantern so much.  Of all the Super Hero's, what was it about Green Lantern that captures my heart.  Well the first thing that came to mind was the color Green.  I seem to like things that are green.  Money is green, green stands for "GO",  it is in the charts of soothing colors right along with blue.  Green also stand for something good or something you did right.  Like a green checkbox next to an accomplishment.   But I really don't think that is the root of why I like Green Lantern.  I started to think about all of Green Lanterns traits and put them into a list in my mind.   

Now for those of you that are not familiar with Green Lantern,  let me tell you a little bit about the man in Green.  Without divulging his back-story,  Green Lantern uses his imagination and will power to forge objects to help him defeat his foes.  He has a ring that helps him harness the Power of Will, and Will is also represented as Green.  

I think it is very fitting that my favorite super hero is all based on will power.  Will power is one thing that I constantly struggle with.  Do I have the will power to go on?  Give me the will power to get up each day and run a mile.  Give me the will power that I need to push myself and overcome any obstacles in my path.   Green Lantern represents the very core of what I'm trying to achieve and I am going to be very proud to represent him at my 40th birthday party.

Today's Goal.

Today's goal was not only to run my mile, but rather find the will to do more.  How can I push myself when I'm so exhausted?   How do I find the will to go further?  I feel the need to reinforce this very fact that Goals are so important.  My goal today is push myself beyond what I think I can do and just see what the results are.  Before I began my run, I figured that if I could make it to the freeway bridge, then I would have pushed myself beyond my mile and that is good progress.   So today's goal was no longer,  run to the end of my street.  Today's goal was run to the bridge and back. 

Today's Progress. 

My run was amazing this morning.  For the first time, I actually looked up and just admired the sky, it's stars and the gigantic moon that lit up my path to victory.   It was definitely a good morning to run.  As I neared the end of the street, I completely felt like I was going to bail out.   The closer and closer I got, the more I started second guessing myself.   But my will was strong today and without thought,  without over thinking am I going to do it or am I going to turn back,  I blew right past the end of my street making the turn and headed right for the bridge.  Turns out the bridge is only .1 miles more of running and I instantly knew that I could make it there with no problem.   I used my will just like Green Lantern does and this morning I actually felt like my very own Hero.