Damn, baby steps work
I know that in the course of running 1000 miles broken up over a year this message can easily get old, but damn, I have to say it again - baby steps work.
Ran the 76th mile today (actually 72nd- 76th). I like running, I like it a lot. I'm not a "I like it when I'm done" kinda runner. I love it all. I like it to hurt, like getting sprayed with cold dirty water and tiny bits of gravelly dirt when trucks rumble by, I sweat to burn my eyes, I like the numbness of my legs at mile 9. And yeah, I like it when it's done too. The hot shower in winter, cool shower in summer. Like the cold beer or hot tea afterward, like to put my feet in the lap of whatever family member is nearby so I can beg them for a massage (rarely works, but still...) I like the dull ache, the flush in my face that stays for hours. I like it all.
That said, I can tell you with 100% certaintly that if I had not made this resolution, I would not have run 76 miles so far this year. It is too easy not to. Maybe I would have run 50 miles, maybe less and that's nothing to sneeze at. But I knew I could do more, knew that I had it in me to work harder and with more consistency than I had been.
It occurred to me briefly to try and make 100 miles this week. It would mean pretty big runs every day for the rest of the week, on top of solid runs to make up for an unscheduled day off this past weekend (I have only this to say: pot hangovers are no lie). I could do it, push even harder this week and get to 100, but the point right now is that I will be at 100 next week by running consistently and well each day this week. I don't have to exhaust myself, or cut into time that I don't have. Just keep on keepin on.
I have written most of a book, a story that has been asking to be told for a while now. It is scattered and needs love, needs my hand. I'll start back on it today, there's no saying where I'll be in 26 days.
Ran the 76th mile today (actually 72nd- 76th). I like running, I like it a lot. I'm not a "I like it when I'm done" kinda runner. I love it all. I like it to hurt, like getting sprayed with cold dirty water and tiny bits of gravelly dirt when trucks rumble by, I sweat to burn my eyes, I like the numbness of my legs at mile 9. And yeah, I like it when it's done too. The hot shower in winter, cool shower in summer. Like the cold beer or hot tea afterward, like to put my feet in the lap of whatever family member is nearby so I can beg them for a massage (rarely works, but still...) I like the dull ache, the flush in my face that stays for hours. I like it all.
That said, I can tell you with 100% certaintly that if I had not made this resolution, I would not have run 76 miles so far this year. It is too easy not to. Maybe I would have run 50 miles, maybe less and that's nothing to sneeze at. But I knew I could do more, knew that I had it in me to work harder and with more consistency than I had been.
It occurred to me briefly to try and make 100 miles this week. It would mean pretty big runs every day for the rest of the week, on top of solid runs to make up for an unscheduled day off this past weekend (I have only this to say: pot hangovers are no lie). I could do it, push even harder this week and get to 100, but the point right now is that I will be at 100 next week by running consistently and well each day this week. I don't have to exhaust myself, or cut into time that I don't have. Just keep on keepin on.
I have written most of a book, a story that has been asking to be told for a while now. It is scattered and needs love, needs my hand. I'll start back on it today, there's no saying where I'll be in 26 days.
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