Tough

Some days, running is just plain tough. Last week was my easy week where I felt like I barely ran at all. Today, I was supposed to run 13 miles but I didn't realize it until I woke up this morning and checked my run schedule. I worked all weekend on a catering job and usually after I cater I wake up the next day feeling like I was hit by a truck. And this morning was no exception!

So, by the time I got to the YMCA and checked in the four year old, it was already warm and sunny out. I had forgotten Gu or gatorade. I had forgotten my sunscreen. I didn't feel like running indoors on the treadmill for 13 miles.

So I went out on the trail, lamenting the sun exposure and freckles/sun spots appearing on my upper arms. I figured I would just run until I didn't feel like it anymore. Unfortunately, at about 200 yards I didn't feel like it anymore. So I scratched that idea and instead decided to run until I felt I had done a respectable distance. Which is very relative.

At about four miles, I looked up and saw three hawks flying in circles overhead. I wondered what they might be circling...and then the thought hit me..."maybe they are circling me!" After all, at that point I was sweating profusely, dragging my feet, panting and probably looking like a dying animal of some sort. At four miles!

I found a bit of shade and ran in it for as long as I could. It was uphill for about a mile. Ran by some crows sitting on a fence...watching me. I think they had gotten word from the hawks that I would be passing by. I gave them a steely stare as if to say, go find your breakfast somewhere else, punks!

The nice part of the uphill was that I turned around and went downhill for that same mile. Got to the Y again at 7 miles and called it a day. I ate a sugar packet from the coffee cart in the lobby and stretched. Last week I ran the same time but ran 9 miles instead of 7. I don't remember seeing the hawks last week either.

Some days are tough. That is the reality of training for a race as long as 26.2 miles. You just have to shake it off and start again tomorrow, but there is no option to give up. The goal is set and I can't ask Greece to reschedule for another day, or year...(ok well there is always another year but our plane tickets are bought!). Hopefully tomorrow there will be a bit more pep in my step!