It’s been about two weeks since my last long run, which was right after the Austin 6A State Swim Championships. Since then, I haven’t gotten much running in at all. Life has a way of throwing things at you all at once sometimes.
I started feeling under the weather around that weekend in Austin. At first it was just a scratchy throat, but over the next several days it turned into a nagging cough and congestion. I never felt quite right, and running just wasn’t in the cards. On top of that, work at the office has been busy and stressful at times, and life in general has had its share of demands lately.
Some weeks you feel like you can get everything done. Other weeks, you’re just trying to get the bare minimum done and keep things moving forward.
And that’s okay.
Training, just like life, isn’t always a straight line. There are ups and downs. There are weeks when everything clicks and the miles come easily, and there are weeks when your body or your schedule tells you to slow down.
The important thing is not getting too frustrated with those moments. It’s about going with the flow, adjusting in the short term, and keeping your eyes on the bigger picture.
Today is about getting back at it.
The long-term goal hasn’t changed. I’m still planning to run the half marathon, and I’m really looking forward to heading back to Michigan for it. It’ll be great to see friends and colleagues I haven’t seen in a couple of years, even though we stay in touch regularly. There’s something special about going back, lining up at the start, and sharing that experience together.
So today isn’t about perfection.
It’s about momentum again.
Just putting one foot in front of the other and getting back on the road.
Brick by brick.