Running Reveals Reality
Running Reveals Reality
When a look in the mirror is rough.
Prologue:
I started this post following the long run with Dave and Robert but never got around to sharing it. Since then I have traveled to Florida for Disney World before embarking on a 7 day cruise. Following the cruise we traveled to California for Disneyland and then back to Raleigh. The next post will cover that trip and the path forward. Until then, enjoy this post from earlier this month.
Throughout life we all face dozens if not hundreds of choices where we must make a decision and live with the consequences on a daily basis. Sometimes the choices aren’t great, sometimes the choices are slim and rarely do we have no choice at all. From those choices we have to make a decision, take an action given our choices and then live with the consequences of those decisions. Consequences of our actions can be positive and lead to a better, more fulfilled life. On the flipside, consequences can be dire, painful and make life difficult. Sometimes the consequences aren’t actualized until weeks, months or years later.
Running brings forth those consequences into an undeniable reality. For me, I made the decision to not make running a priority in December, resulting in only 13.53 miles completed in those 31 days. The consequences from that decision became painfully present on my first long run of the year on Sunday (1/8/2023). I linked up with Robert and Dave for a 10-mile run at a 10min/mi pace. The consequences of my decisions resulted in me choosing to shorten the run to just 6-miles, luckily we maintained a pace of 10min/mi or better.
6.17mi Total: Average Pace: 9’44”
Mile 1: 9’36”|Mile 2: 9’51”|Mile 3: 10’00”|Mile 4: 9’38”|Mile 5: 9’43”|Mile 6: 9’44”
Reality is revealed during the run. My reality that Sunday was that I was the weakest link in the group that day. I had a few choices in front of me after that run, I could continue this piss poor performance or I could make a change and start rebuilding my cardiovascular capacity by making running and fitness a priority in my life.