Sunday, November 14, 2010

A Big Thanks To YOU!

I was freezing my ass off yesterday at the OSU-WSU game. Seriously - did OSU even show up? Eh, whatever - it isn't the best season, and that's okay. There have been worse. Trust me. 1996? I could just show up, show my student ID and sit ANYWHERE because nobody went to the games. We won ONE home game that year, and to celebrate the goal post was torn down and paraded through campus. True story!

Here are a couple of snapshots from the day!
Ronda and Ron -- me and my Grandpa sitting in the VIP seats. Yeah - that's how we roll. ;)

With Chris - a mini college reunion. We were also on the same IM bowling team together ... Stolen Shoes!

Anyway, as I was sitting there I realized why I am just not into football this year. I have my own things going on. I had my vacation. I have been busy racing. I am looking forward to officially starting to train for the half marathon. I'm just busy doing my own thing this year, and football hasn't been a part of that. Heck, I chose to run the Prefontaine Memorial 10K instead of going to the first (sunny) home game of the year. Okay, really - was that a hard choice for me? Prefontaine versus football? Yeah, no contest!

But it isn't just my own thing that has me not into football. It is the attitude. Football is so negative. If you aren't rooting for the University of Oregon (and trust me I never have and never will), then you pretty much get the big F You from everybody in this state. It is pathetic how many people jump on a bandwagon when a team is winning all of their games. I can't even describe how negative people are to Beaver fans. It is so childish, mean ... and confrontational. And I hate confrontation. I'm the "glass is half full" girl. I can always find a positive side to pretty much any situation. But when you are at football games you just keep hearing negative negative negative. Or people wishing injuries against players on other teams. If you could see the things I see on my facebook news feed.... it is pretty disgusting. And actually during football season I hide a lot of people from my feed because I just don't feel the need to read all of the bad things people put out there.

And how does this relate to YOU? Well as I was daydreaming during that game yesterday I was thinking about how positive the running community is. If someone has a bad run, we are all there to boost their spirits. If someone does good - or even beats you in a race - we don't wish them physical harm, we congratulate them! It is just so refreshing to be around people that really do seem to respect each other and appreciate the hard work we all put out with each and every run. Even the bad runs!

So I want to thank YOU for being optimistic, positive, full of great advice, for sharing your successes and your struggles. Every post I read I feel like I learn something or take away a positive message that I can try to apply to my own running. I have been feeling under the weather and it has killed me to not run, but I know me, and I know I have to get over this or I will just flop out there and then feel worse. But reading everybody's posts from while I was gone is really giving me the inspiration and motivation to get back out there tomorrow and really start working toward that elusive 13.1 milestone!

Thank heavens we aren't just always putting each other down. By now, before I even hit "publish post", there would be tons of messages telling me how much I suck and to not even bother to try running .... but that's if we were all cranky football fans.... Incidentally -- ever notice how the biggest trash talkers in life are the ones that don't even get out there and TRY?? Always surrounded by "experts" who probably never played football outside of their junior high team, or only ran when forced to in PE class. *sigh* 

In conclusion, you all are awesome! Thanks for being you and spreading positive vibes each and every day! Let's keep it up!


3 comments:

  1. I've been impressed by how positive the running community is as well. Once you're in, you get all kinds of support and encouragement. All of these positive vibes are really just intended to give you a kick in the butt to hit the next milestone. I'm very thankful for those 'nudges' along the way. I may just be a runner yet. So thank YOU. ;)

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  2. So so sorry we had to kick Beaver ass yesterday. When I lived in Washington, it's the same type of thing with the Cougs and the Huskies -- usually we suck mightily and, particularly if you're in the Seattle area, everyone else is a gloating Husky. Unless WSU actually does well for a change and then they're rooting for the Cougs. So I don't like the Ducks much myself because of the parallels.

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  3. Now let's run 13.1 together in February!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!

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