Perspectives

The training doldrums are here.
It has happened the past couple years about this same time. It feels like Kevin and I have been training for our races foreeeever. (To give him credit, he is on week 11 out of 16. I'm only on week 5 of 10) Running has taken over what little spare time we have. I just got back from a four miler & he has headed out for a ten miler..... Soon enough, though, it will be over. Race day will be here.

Last week we had dinner with some great friends. Two of them ran in the Half two years ago with me (poor Kevin was doing the Full). It was fun to sit & talk and laugh with them over our impressions of all 13.1 miles. Stories of what we saw: lines for port-a-johns, costumed runners, blisters, people cheering for you, water/gatorade stops, the medic tent, and the finish line. All three of us had very different perspectives and memories of the race. One completed it and said he'll never do another again. Another would like to do a half again with proper training... And me. I've done another. And am doing it again this year.

It was great to run that race with friends. Even though we were all separated by mile two I still knew they were on that same course (and Kevin too-just further away). We weren't side by side, but we were all with each other. Experiencing the same bends in the road, cheering crowds, pain, crossing the bridge, and making it to the finish line. I ran better knowing that others were with me.

Isn't that like life? In the good times and bad, to have someone with you. Sharing the same experiences. Even though their perspective might be different from yours at the end, you made it and finished together. And you were not alone.

And so I'm thankful for that dinner last week.
It's helped to ease the doldrums.
Because I know that even on my training runs by myself, I never run alone.