What inspires you?

Today starts off the biggest week of training.  This is the 40 mile week. 2 five mile runs, 1 ten mile run and then the 20 mile run on Saturday.  This will be far and away the hardest week of training.  I'm excited to finally do the big 20 mile run (excited is a strange word to describe this but I am!), I think if I can mentally get through this I should be able to make it through the marathon with all the added excitement of the actual race!  After this week, I will spend 3 weeks tapering, which is great because I am pretty busy in my work life the last few weeks.  This race will be here before I know it! 
Saturday night, while watching the tournament and all the UConn players jamming out with their headphones on before the game, we discussed what music "pumped" us up while running.  Now anyone that knows me really well knows that I have absolutely horrible taste in music, and my running music choices are about the same.  I would like to say I listen to whatever is popular on the radio, or I have all these cool underground bands that I listen to while I run....not the case.  I have a few songs that really get me going and here are some of them:

• "Crazy Bitch" - Buckcherry
• "Never Again" - Kelly Clarkson
• "Stronger" - Britney Spears
• "Unstoppable" - Rascal Flatts
• "Defying Gravity" - Wicked Cast
• "I Drove All Night" - CELINE
• "How Will I Know" - Whitney Houston
• "Gunpowder & Lead" - Miranda Lambert
• "Take Me As I Am" - Sugarland
• "Fighter" - Christina, by far and away my favorite.  When I don't think I can run one more step, I put this on.  It works...try it.

Kind of a hodge podge of strange old music, but this is what pumps me up.  Seriously who listens to Buckcherry and the Wicked Soundtrack on the same run?  As I look at this list, and reflect back on what I have thought the last few long runs....I am an angry runner.  I wish I could say that when I'm running I think about the greater issues in life....and maybe I do from time to time.  But most of the time....I'm just pissed. 

So what keeps me going?  The thought of ever having to pay more money for a bridesmaid dress because it is plus size (I get it, they use more fabric!), sitting by the phone waiting for some guy to call wondering what's wrong with me if he never calls, or the look on sales associate at a store that says "why are you shopping here, nothing at this store is in your size."  Thinking about how I use to feel about myself, can definitely push me through the miles where I start to question if I can run anymore.  Natalie always tells me when she wants to quit running on the treadmill, she thinks of me yelling at her (me? yell?....never) and keeps going (so proud of her!).  The thought of the finish line also inspires me not to stop.  When I am feeling like I need a pick me up, I put on "One Moment In Time" by Whitney Houston and think of the last .2 miles of the marathon, this always makes me smile and keeps me going no matter how tired I am.

So what inspires you to keep going?  Is it happy thoughts?  Or are you pissed at the world?  Do you have an upcoming event you want to look great for, and the thought of that inspires you to not give up?  A big race that you are training for and look forward to the finish line? No matter what it is, as long as you stay moving that's all that matters! :) I often see girls that are a little bigger on the treadmills running slowly and I want to yell, "Don't give up!  You can do it!  If I can, anyone can".  But I never want to be the crazy girl at the gym, so I keep my thoughts to myself.  Maybe one day I will....it probably would have made my day 20 months ago!

Side note - after a very drunk month of March (Exhibit A of my birthday at my favorite place, The Wrightwood Tap):

I am going to attempt to give up alcohol for the entire month of April.  Four days in and going strong!