It Was the Best of Times…

In a recent writing prompt, it was asked to describe when the phrase, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” accurately described life.

Now.

Now is when that phrase is so appropriate.

I am on a great running streak, day 73, in fact. I’m almost there in terms of hitting my mileage goal for the year. Yet, I feel the goals slipping away as the icy grip on my throat starts to take hold. It burns when I cough. I try to keep quiet and still; willing myself to not be sick.

I can’t be sick. Not now. Not when I’m rounding the corner to the finish line.

This sucks this sucks this sucks this sucks this sucks.

No, in terms of real life stuff, this doesn’t even show up on the radar.

I’m not willing to let go of 73 days of continuous streaking. I’m not even ready to give up my 500 miles for the year quite frankly, although I better get well fast because I need to go nearly 4 miles a day to hit that goal. Here’s the deal: my legs have carried me 395 miles so far. I just have a little more to go. My annual miles are nearly 100 more miles than I’ve ever run in any year. Anything I do at this point is better than what I’ve done in the past, so there is that.

This process has taught me a few things:

*Running daily keeps the winter blues away. (And yes, even in Texas, it is possible to feel the winter blues.)
*There is always time to squeak in at least a mile. When you can do it everyday for 100 days, you can find the time every day.
*If something is important, you’ll make the time for it. If you want it bad enough, you will find a way to make it happen.
*Some days are just better than others. In running, in parenting, and every other facet of life. Ride out the rough miles to get to the really great ones!
*Everyone needs something, that “thing” that is only theirs. Alone time, meditation, prayer, running, yoga – whatever it is that charges your batteries – you need it. You. Need. It. Everyone is a better person when their self-care is in check.

I have 27 days left to reach my 100th. I know there’ll be gems tucked in those runs, just waiting for me to scoop them up and tuck them away.

Here’s to stillness, quiet, medicine, rest, and plugging though even the seemingly “worst” of times to get to the “best” of finishing this year!