Be Grateful for What You Got

I have not written for a while again. Sorry. Lots of adventure last week. I started the workout week on Monday. I decided that even though it was a 90 degree day (and the first one of the season) perhaps I should do three sports. I started with a 2400 yard swim in the pool moved on to an hour of indoor cycling with Kevin then my friend Diane and I went for a 4 mile run in the Pheasant Branch Conservancy. The run nearly killed me. I could not keep my heart rate below zone 4 and most of the time it was above my LT. Yea I freaked out, oh yea and I was putting down about a 10 minute mile.

I stewed on this for a couple of days realizing that perhaps exhaustion, hydration and temperature played a role, put I am going to run a half marathon in a few days and if 4 mile was doing me in how would I finish this marathon little own consider doing the Ironman. Lots of head games. Then I was talking with my friend Laurie, she reminded me that is was not long ago that I could not have run a mile, and that there are lots of people around me who can't do a mile right now. Jim you need to be grateful for where you are at! She was so right, Thanks Laurie. My fitness level has improved so much and all I could do was whine about my time.

Fast forward to Sunday morning at 7:00 AM we (my son Matt and I) are up on the Capital Square waiting for the Madison Marathon and specifically the half marathon (13.1 miles of hot sticky bliss) to begin. My goals were to 1. Kick Matt's ass, 2. Finish in 2:10 3. Better yet finish in less than 2 hours. It was hot and sticky in the morning and they started by telling us that the course was on yellow which means that we need to be careful and run at a slower pace. After nine miles I was still on pace to finish in less than two hours, and even better I could not see Matt when I turned around. At about 9.5 miles or so I felt my body drain . Shortly after the 10 mile mark, my mind went into overload. Then I made the decision to walk for a little bit bad idea. I had forgotten to 'clear my mind' a principle I learned from Mark Allen's book Fit Soul Fit Body. A mile and a half and nearly 30 minutes later. I had pulled back together to run the rest of the way in. I not only missed the two hour mark but the 2:10 was in the rearview mirror also. It took me almost an hour to finish the last 4 miles.

I was a little disappointed when I crossed the finish 2:26. Yea I was still waiting for Matt to get in... but still. As I watched Matt come in a few minutes later, I realized once again I needed to be greatful. I could not have done this a year ago not only did I finish but I got to run with my son and how cool was that! So my take away for this week is: be greatful and remember where you came from, and enjoy the ride.