SHUT UP BRAIN

5 AM. Alarm goes off. Just hit snooze. Just hit it once. That's the first thought through my head this morning. No. Cause once turns into twice turns into the "Sorry Ash, not feeling great this morning, gonna skip Hobo and sleep in."

Feet on the ground. Clothes on. Cornbread eaten (yup, that happened at 5:10AM). Shoes in hand. Let's roll.

5:59 AM. 5 stairs up #HQ555. Not feeling this. Shouldn't have pushed so hard on that run last night. This was a stupid idea. Quads are tired. Feet are tired. Arms are tired. Lungs are tired. Snot rockets left and right. Would've been smart to stay in bed and get rid of this cold. Fuck. I hear them behind me. Just keep moving.

3 rounds up and down. Halfway there. Have to make it through 6 or else I'm out of the photo and banned. Slash disappointed in myself. Maybe I'll just do 6 and then call it quits. Sit out the last few minutes. It's ok. I'll blame it on the cold. Yeah. That's a good idea.

6 rounds up and down. George tells me there's 5 minutes left. Can't stop now. Nobody else is stopping yet. I'll go down the goat. Could be fun. Definitely is fun. Why haven't I done this earlier? Ok back up. Woof. Up sucks. Time up. Made it.

3 miles to run after HQ. Can't keep up with them. Legs are shot. Lungs are burning. WHY? This is so frustrating. I stop. Hands on knees. Tell them to keep going. Just go back to the car. Write it off. Shit happens. No. Can't. Get up. Keep running.

Finally home. Shower feels good. Pat on the back for not giving up this morning. Maybe I'll just take a little nap. I've earned it right? I should do some work before I head out to see patients. But just a littttlllleeee nap is ok. No. Stop. SHUT UP BRAIN. You're being counterproductive. Get up. Get dressed. Move.

Some days your biggest competitor isn't that racer next to you, or that driven co-worker always trying to one up you. Some days your biggest competitor is yourself. Your body can do so much more than you think is capable. It's your brain you have to convince.

So lean on those around you. Use your running partner's feet pounding behind you as motivation. Tell someone you're going to get that project done, so then you have to.

What kicked my funk? What told my brain to stop being my enemy and start being my biggest support? An innocent little Instagram comment:

"You seriously are the realist and sincerest person I have met in the last 10 years. Keep doing what you do everyday. You have so much to give this world."

Thank you @sweetwillyjones. You have no idea how much I needed that today.

#runningmotivationfitnessinspirationmountainstrailrunningmountainhobocompetitionbrainpsychology