Running outside SUCKS!

It really does. Since I've started my training for my 1/2 marathon, I've mixed up my training between the gym and outside running. Now in my gym I use the starimaster, the elicpical machine, the treadmill and the bike. Where is outside is just that- running - no variety. In my gym, I'm distracted with my music playing in my ears and TV's on 3 different channels - love that. I am so informed on news, gossip (yes a hidden vice of mine) and sports (Rick loves that one). Outside is only my music and of course all the distractions around my surroundings. I've researched training materials and it says you should focus each mile on a person, an issue you might have, a problem that needs attention, etc. Well I have good intentions of doing this and here's how it plays out in my mind:
mile 1 running, I'm gonna focus on new ways to teach measurement for my kiddos at school since TAKS is coming up, hey that song is too slow I need to skip forward, look at all that paper on the ground- why do people litter? That makes so angry- wow the sun is warm today- I need to remember to put sunscreen on before I leave next time, oh I need to get Jonah some too for this summer- maybe I'll remember to write that down once I get home- yea who am I kidding- if I don't write it down, I won't remember. Wow this street is long and the wall right next to me reminds me of the barrier wall Rick & I saw at that closed down concentration camp in Germany years ago- oh what a moment to see that camp- how can people say the Holocaust never happened? It did and have we learned anything from it? Learning- oh yea I'm supposed to be thinking of news ways of teaching measurement. Oh these Spring trees blooming are killing my allergies. Who am I kidding training outside when Spring is one of my worst allergy seasons besides Fall. I need to make an appointment with Dr Louder - my accupunticist so he can help me. Oh, I wonder how is family is with baby #4 now. Just seems like Jonah was born, but he's alreay 10 months- wow time does fly just like all the expereinced mom's told me during my pregnancy- Hey look at that family out there all walking together- that is too cool- what great quality time they are sharing- that is too cool- oh I need to stop and get some water!

So as you can see my ADD kicks in real quickly and although the time goes by faster- after a run outside I am mentally and physically exhausted! I wonder how people are able to let their minds "go" during runs. Maybe I'm too nosey and have to look all around - heaven forbid I miss something or maybe b/c I'm always trying to multi-task or maybe b/c I just like to take everything in and absord it all- and of course think and rethink over and over!

PS- I did learn of a new "picture" of what Saturday mornings look outside. Who knew there were so many people out and about at 9 AM- (you know Rick and I are not early risers and even now we rotate weekend days on who gets up with Jonah so the other one can sleep in). People were running, mothers and sons out walking, fathers and sons fishing, a family teaching a little girl how to throw a softball, kids feeding the ducks, a family eating donuts on the bench (I totally wanted one of their donuts!) and others with their pets or themselves just enjoying the nice quiet morning and getting some exercise to boot! Maybe we'll be one of those families someday...who am I kidding- we'll be the family taking a walk like we do now, but it will be late afternoon or early evening- we love sleeping in too much.