Paying the price: good and bad

Dear James, Daniel and Emily

Yep it is about that time, time to step up and pay the proverbial piper. Pay for all the apple fritters, pop tarts, cookies etc. And begin the payment plan that will carry me to another Grand Prix finish and Half marathon.

Tuesday I forced myself out of bed and out on the road. And I'm not gonna lie, 4 days off and generally letting myself go as far as eating habits and not running as much is making things hurt a little more. So that first half to a full mile hurts a wee bit more these days. But that is the price I have to pay. As always I am honest about it, I have been on a little too much of a 'see food' diet these past couple of months (I see food I eat it.)

So now I have to pay that price, I have to suffer a little bit as I get back into the ideal active habits. Running 4-5 times a week. Get out on walk on my lunch hour more. Even get up and walk the dog after dinner a few times. And I know that as I ramp up to the point where I am doing that comfortably, logging 20+ miles a week again, it will take some effort, and yes some pain and soreness.

But that is the bad price, the good price is the benefit of all that (pending) work. Finishing another Grand Prix. Finishing another Half Marathon (maybe even pain free for once.) And fitting more comfortably in my clothes again. I just have to think of it like layaway, every day, week month I complete of that renewed focus will pay off in the end with something cool.

To help me along in all this I got some new running gear for Xmas. New hat, gloves, sweatshirt, long sleeve shirts. I tried them out today and felt good, right up until I ran into the water. The creek apparently rose a few feet in the last couple of days (no idea why, no rain or snow, must have been some melt) and I didn't realize it wasn't ice until I got both feet thoroughly drenched. I made my way home, still getting in 2+ miles, but may have to alter my route for a few days, which isn't a bad thing, forcing a change to my route might even be a good thing long term.