Looking ahead

I have a schedule hanging on the wall by my computer. (Yes, I mostly use my Google calendar for everything, but this is something that stands best on its own.) When I look at it like this:

…it looks like a really long time until my big race, down there in the lower right-hand corner. On the other hand, those other scratched dates mark races along the way, and using them as sign-posts breaks up the time into segments that aren’t just manageable, but feel quite fast. The half-marathon, coming up first, is bracketed by an 18 and a 20-miler. There are three 20+ mile long runs before Green Bay, in the middle. It adds up. Also, my good friend Carl grabbed me at church yesterday to encourage me to do this 5K; the interesting thing about it, we noted, is that there’s actually childcare provided, which would let Eric participate with me! I told him that if he did it, I’d run with him, and he said he’d consider it. (I actually first suggested we could walk it together, but he said he might prefer to run!)

Sometimes, big black lines crossing off the days feel so rewarding and satisfying. Sort of an “I’ve done this,” in addition to regular running logs that add up totals and whatnot.

I messed up this morning somehow, and the strength workout I meant to do before coming home to make breakfast for Eric and me didn’t happen; I woke up to Eric’s alarm going off, ten minutes after I was supposed to start making the oats. Oops. Well, maybe I can figure out something this afternoon instead, though it gets more complicated. Dinner is in the crockpot, so that’ll help.