I can feel Irene getting closer, the clouds are getting grayer. After a late night, you might notice some changes to this site, yes that’s how I spent my Friday night. I was up early to try out a new run. I have spent so much time lately training with other people this was the first time I had done a workout totally solo in over a week.

As I put on my shoes and left the house this morning I realized, it’s all about me today. No one is going to push me, no one is going to care if I go fast or slow, in truth no one really cares that I went running this morning. I have spent so much time with people in my training that I had forgotten that fact. A friend wrote and article about training and the toughest part is the stuff people don’t see. I encourage you to read it, as it speaks to many many truths, Jason’s Blog on tough.

As I began my accent of East Mountain Rd and the over 1000 feet of climbing over the next two miles, it really hit me. This is the point in which you define what sort of athlete you want to be. Was I going to let my inner dialogue say this is too hard and slow to a slow walk or even stop or would I push through and see what is down there when you dig deep.

In honesty, I walked some but propelled myself to move into that jog. It wasn’t that steep and it wasn’t that bad. I could have walked, no one was watching, no one cared. The random car which passed didn’t care how fast I went up the hill, they just wanted me out of their way.

It is in these moments, that we look at who we are, what we are made of and if lucky a form of clarity arises around us and we are at peace with everything all at once, but most importantly ourselves. I can post away my downfalls, accomplishments, and other successes but in the end the only one I truly have to answer to is myself.

For those who like to see my stat’s here you go, today for me was not about the stat’s, it was truly the feeling that propelled me:

ROAD RUN
Killington, VT
Distance: 13.29 Miles
Time: 2:04:05
Pace: 9:20 Min/Mi
Elevation Gain: 1,473 ft
Elevation Loss: 1,467 ft