On the one hand, it feels good that I am in good enough shape to complete that work, on the other hand, training doesn't stop. I did squeeze in a 3 mile run on Monday morning in Ottumwa. Although it was overcast and dreary, it was pretty running on some different trails along the Des Moines river. I even got to watch an Eagle flying up and down the river during my run.
After returning home that evening I hit the exercise bike but opted to push my strength training for the day to later in the week. On Tuesday morning I had to get up and pound the pavement for 5 miles before getting the girls to daycare and heading off to work. I knew that I was so warn out that the miles wouldn't come easy, but it ended up being ridiculous. Less then 2 miles in my legs were completely gone, but I managed to trudge along the rest of the way, practically dragging my feet.
The truth is that I will never be a professional runner or triathlete, so I have to make do with fitting training into the rest of my life. Sometimes it isn't easy, but I firmly believe that it is those miles, just like the 5 I ran last Tuesday on tired legs that help define who I am. It is those miles that not only make me a better runner, but also make me a better person. Those are the miles that build confidence and will pay off the most when I hit mile 20 in the marathon next June and feel like stopping. Knowing that I can, and have, pushed through will help me to keep going.
Every time I head out for a run, swim, or bicycle ride, I pray for everything to go smoothly and to feel good along the way but I know that training, like life, isn't always easy. I also believe that without the hard times, we could not appreciate the good times as much.
