"It's Official"

They've cancelled our race! For some time I've wondered why the Forest City Road Race page was not updated to reflect the coming years races, and when they did update it they did not show the marathon distance. I just received an e-mail with official confirmtion that after almost 20 consecutive years they will no longer have a marathon in London. It seems that the interest has simply waned and as such they can't justify the cost and organization necessary. For the last several years they have also had a half marathon and that seems to be more appealling to the masses. After some deliberation we have decided to join the masses. I had my heart set on running a marathon together but I also wanted it to be a small local race without all the hype and logistics associated with a bigger event.

So a half marathon it is! I'm pretty sure that Roo thinks that means some kind of nice cosy training schedule from here on in but that would be a mistake on her part. It just means a different kind of training with more intense workouts...surprise!!!!

Personally I have come to terms with it as well and quite frankly I'm gonna back right off for at least a few weeks. I feel so burned out and I don't know why. It's probably mental burnout but even so it feels very real. I will still workout every day but limit it to an hour a day plus my twice a week weights with Peter. Maybe I'll kick it up again after Christmas. Maybe this strategy will also revive my enthusiasm to get back into the pool.

Actually I'm lying about any uncertainty around my lack of enthusiasm I'm pretty sure I know why I've been dragging my ass. It's because I've been feeling sorry for myself and the self induced stress manifests itself in physical ways. There I said it!

The other day Elly gave me a nice idea that I think has merit and that I'm trying to hold onto. She said that if everyone in the world would put their problems in one pile and you were then asked to withdraw those that you would prefer to own, that chances are good that you would take your own problems back. After giving it some thought I'm pretty sure I would. What would you do?......and why does that question sound familiar?

I had an original thought today as well that I wish to share. It's around the concept of tough love. I have always had it in mind that this expression meant being firm with someone you loved because even though it would be tough on them it was what they needed. Today it occured to me that the 'tough' part of the expression applies more to the 'lover' than the 'lovee' and at least in my case the reason I don't always make the right decision.....sometimes it's just too "tough"! I'm working on it.

“The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny."---Albert Ellis

“The way we see the problem is the problem"---Stephen R. Covey

...and this unrelated one on my favorite topic...

“The problem with writing about religion is that you run the risk of offending sincerely religious people, and then they come after you with machetes."---Dave Barry

love
peter