So I trained all last summer and ran a marathon in October, then I got right back at it to get my volume up for Goofy in January. I wasn’t mentally recovered from the marathon but didn’t feel like I could back off and take the time I needed to run without structure before getting on top of my Goofy training. So I decided not to sign up for Around the Bay this year.
It was a wise decision. When I finished Goofy I took some time off, then I just ran. Wherever, whenever, however far – completely unstructured, just for fun. I don’t regret it.
At least, not really.
Because of course, now it is Around the Bay weekend, and here I am…not running Around the Bay.
I know I am a bit of a Labrador Retriever when it comes to races – each one is a new person, a big stick, a new tennis ball (“Ooh! Around the Bay – my favourite! Ooh! Ottawa – my favourite! Ooh! Insert race here – my favourite!”) – but knowing I won’t be making the excursion around the Bay this weekend makes me a little wistful. Just another one of running’s great ironies – if I didn’t want to put in the work, I can’t run the race; now that I can’t run the race, I almost wish I had put in the work!
To those of you running this weekend – good luck and have fun! I will be cheering you on from the sidelines!
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