Wednesday, November 12, 2008

50 Ways to Leave Your Lover (A.K.A. the couch)


After a 4 day weekend, I came home from work today and all I wanted was 2 things. Number 1) To lay on the couch all night. Number 2) LET myself lay on the couch all night. I usually run Wednesday night, a mid-week longer slow run. But with the darkness and the intermittent rain, I could not get motivated. I thought the couch was the best thing and I did not want to leave it. So, I started making deals with myself. OK, I'll turn on the TV and if I haven't seen this particular episode of "King of Queens" then I will sit on the couch before I run. I turned on the TV and whoops, I had already seen that episode. Seriously, I have not seen that many episodes of this show so I thought I was playing it safe by making this deal with myself. So, plan B. OK, I have seen this episode, but I really like it, (so I told myself), so I will watch it anyway and then I will go running. When the show was over, I did not think I could tear myself away from the couch. The couch was so inviting and comfortable and warm and dry. But, I did. And this is how I did it.
1) I looked for a sign that I was really doing the right thing by leaving the couch to go running. I got my stuff on and grabbed my iPOD. When I turned it on before leaving the house, the song "I want to be your lover" came on by Prince. Well, obviously this was a sign that I should leave my one lover (couch) for another; running. So check, this was my sign.
2) Look for something different to focus on while running. I did this in 2 ways, (see number 3 for the 2nd). I did a few loops and checked my times for each loop. Earlier, I had talked to Brian Morrison at SRC and we were talking about 12 and 24 hour races where you are literally running a 1 to 1+ mile loop for a given amount of time. We agreed that at first running in circles doesn't sound like the best fun ever, but the idea has potential. The thought of running for a given amount of time to see how far you can go is different and refreshing instead of running a certain distance for time. So, I implemented that thought process on this run.
3) As I was listening to my iPOD, I tried to envision myself singing karaoke to the songs. Why I did this, I have no idea, but it sure did make the time pass. So many songs I would never sing at karaoke. Too much time in between the lyrics.
Anyway....
after 101 minutes, I was back at my doorstep after a longer slow run. I did it, I overcame the lack of motivation and left my couch. I was really happy I did, as I knew I would be, but it just took some coercing and some mind games.
I realise listed here are not 50 ways to get up off the couch to go running in the dark rain, but it's a start. After all, it's just the start of the long dark and rainy month and I am sure I will have more nights like this one.....

3 comments:

Hallie said...

king of queens? seriously?? you crack me up alm!

ALM said...

I know, King of Queens...but I don't have cable and desperate times call for desperate measures!

Anonymous said...

Oh M'Lady this is too funny. If you're making deals to watch Full House then it's time to stay in!