Do what you can with what you have where you are.

 

(source)

This is my motto for the day... week... month? I don't know. A while.

It's been a rough few weeks. With the move and training and the school year starting again, things have just been crazy.

Fall is here. Fall is always CRAZY busy for me. Work gets its craziest. Add to that this year, since I'm teaching my first ever official college class (you can call me professor if you want!). Weekends are starting to fill up faster than ever before. Til the marathon, I have exactly 2 weekends with nothing scheduled that will complicate my long runs.

Long Runs are the key to marathon training. Many, many people say this. People much more experienced and much smarter than me. I know how important these runs are.

Up til now, I have not had to miss a long run yet. I had to split 1 LR into 2 short runs* on the same day once. But, other than that- I've stayed faithful and followed that damn schedule. Don't believe me? Here's proof-- my marathon training long runs, week by week:
Week 1: 13.2 miles
Week 2: 11 miles
Week 3: 14 miles
Week 4: 10 miles
Week 5: 13.1 miles
Week 6: 14 miles*
Week 7: 16 miles
Week 8: 11 miles
Week 9: 16 miles
Week 10: 18.15 miles
Week 11: 19.15 miles
Week 12: 13.5 miles
Week 13: 21 miles

Told you. You doubted.

Regardless-- fall craziness is HERE.

This weekend, I won't have time to do my long run. Period. It's just not gonna happen.

And, it's just about impossible for me to get 22 miles in all after work any day. I don't get outta work til close to 6 most days. I wouldn't even get home til after 9. 9pm is my bedtime. No joke. It's just NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

So, I'm taking on a new motto: Do what you can with what you have where you are.

We can't magically create more hours in the day. We can't not live or make any other life plans just to ensure you have 3+ hours free every Saturday morning. We can't control life all the time. It's just not gonna happen.

Do what you can with what you have where you are.

Rather than beating myself up about it and bitching and moaning and feeling lesser of a runner/marathon trainee because life if getting in the way-- I choose to do what you can with what you have where you are.

Today, I'm running 22 miles. In 3 shorter runs. It's the only way I can get it in this week. Do what you can with what you have where you are. I ran 7 craaaazy sweaty miles before work, with a big smile on my face because I WAS RUNNING and how freaking awesome is it that I have legs that will carry me through all this?!?!

I ran 5 more miles at lunch. And I will (or at least that's the plan right now! Wish me luck!!) run the rest after work. 12 down. 10 to go.

And you know what? I'm OK with it. Is it perfect? No. Is it ideal? No. Is it the same as running 22 straight miles? NO. But, will it have to do this week? Yup. Am I going to get all upset and whine about how my whole plan is ruined and I'll never finish and blaaaah blaaaah blaaaaah? NOOOOO. Screw that. I choose better for myself. I choose balance. I choose doing what I can with what I have where I am... and being OK with it.

Do what you can with what you have where you are.