looking at the bright side

With only two weeks left until Shiprock, I had to put in a decent run this last week-end, sick or not. The last run over five miles was three weeks back, a past so distant I doubted the legs could remember it.

It’s not fun to run when you cannot breath and the coughing shakes you so hard that your chest hurts. But I went out determined not to care, since the alternative – no big run, no Shiprock - was unpalatable. I managed sixteen miles before the body gave in. Less then I hoped, but more than I could reasonably expect. My big run for this marathon is going to be the marathon itself.

This is not the way I wanted to return to Shiprock, my first marathon, my best, my magical race a year ago. But then I don’t think I ever went to a race feeling prepared. I will walk it, if need be. It’s still so much better than not finishing. And that is still so much better than not starting.