Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Easier Said Than Done

Well, that didn't take long. 

Less than a week after I started my miraculous spreadsheet, I'm already off schedule. There was the day I overslept, and the day it was cold and rainy, and the day my legs were sore from walking in a hilly neighborhood. All one-offs, but they add up. Laziness creeps up so slowly, and it seems so comforting at the time.

Sleeping in is easy. Relaxing is easy. Taking an extra hour to enjoy my coffee is easy. But I when I do those things instead of running and taking care of myself, everything else gets a lot more difficult.

The easy road does not lead where I want to be. One of the reasons I was drawn to running in the first place was to set myself apart and feel stronger. People do not run marathons because they are easy. People run marathons precisely because they are not, and overcoming that difficulty is a prize on its own.

Like oil changes and flossing, wellness requires regular personal maintenance. It never seems like a big deal to cut corners, but it always catches up with me. Running is an important part of my life, even on the days I'd rather be in bed. I never regret completing a run, but I certainly regret when I skip one. 

So, take two. After a minor setback, it's time to refocus and get back on track. 


2 comments:

  1. if you're really struggling.....just get out an do 1 mile. it keeps the continuity of your training and helps set a schedule. over time the number of obligatory 1 milers will quickly dwindle....

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  2. "I never regret completing a run, but I certainly regret when I skip one."

    Story of my life.

    My work-outs have not included running in quite some time, but now that the mornings are starting to get lighter, I'm beginning to think it's time. Thanks for the gentle reminder that the easy road rarely leads anywhere rewarding.

    I'm cheering you on.

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