The Challenges That Lie Ahead

When we come out here to the Outer Banks, it tends to give us a perspective on the Mainland of our lives, the part of our lives back home, across Currituck Sound and up the mountain to Highlands.  We reflect on what we are doing with this precious time we have, and we give thanks for life, health, strength, and fitness, and especially this wonderful gift of running which we enjoy so much.

I have been running four times since last Sunday's race, the longest distance 4.03 miles on Thursday.  This morning I struggled through 2.61 miles.  Everything hurts!  Some mornings I wonder if I ever will be able to run again, and this morning was one of them.  How did I ever race 13.1 miles only 6 days ago?  But a couple of days off and my body has never failed to respond to the magic medicine of rest, and then it will be ready for more - more miles, more races, more challenges.

So what did I do today, while my legs are still sore?  I signed up for the Richmond Marathon on November 10 - 195 days from now.  Martha signed cup for the Half Marathon.  I ran this marathon several years ago, in 2004, and remember that it was a great race - nice course, nice downhill finish, and I ran one of my fastest times.  But no matter what the result, we can only do our best.

So it's on to Rest, Recovery . . . and  Richmond.