For Pete - Between Opportunities

One day - years ago -  at a family gathering my sister's husband, Pete, who had just retired, told the youngsters that he was "between opportunities". There was something in the way he said it that made them giggle (which was his intention) and to this day it is what they think of when his name is mentioned.

On Tuesday, Pete died. Today was his funeral. I'm fairly certain that for Pete, this week was a time between opportunities. Today friends and family gathered to help my sister see him off to whatever comes next. After the mass, we gathered at the Flemington Diner. Pete loved diner food and this was one of his go-to places. Having been informed that a burger and fries was his favorite meal when he ate there, most of us ordered that.

I just returned from a run. Today's mile was dedicated to Pete. You see my plan is to run my full distance on the weekend and half of that distance twice during the week. Friday is usually a day off. But I missed my run yesterday because I worked late. Tomorrow it is going to rain buckets and then some. So today I ran "between (regular) opportunities".

Keep smiling keep moving
- Paula

Just a mile

Today I ran just a mile. It wasn't pretty. It was not fast. It was just a mile.

IF I'm going to make it to the Ocean City Half Marathon (9/29/2019) I have to start now. One mile at a time. And IF I make it to the OCNJ Half, I do not expect it to be pretty and I do not expect it to be fast. I will only expect to finish.

I've promised myself that there will be no timing devices until race day. I will train for this one by feel. 

My current goal is to get to a comfortable 3 miles by February 1st when registration typically opens for this race.

Good news for today. I did it. :) It was not UN-comfortable but I have some work to do to make it comfortable. And then I need to add at least two more miles to the total by February 1st.

I had to work this morning so I chose to run on the Chester Valley Trail immediately after. I did not want to give myself the chance to ponder things on the ride home. The CVT is less than a 5 minute from where I work.

It was chilly today. I will need ear warmers if this keeps up. But it was just a mile so I was ok. My right hip flexor barked at me a little bit. A gentle reminder that I will need to stretch daily and get up close and personal with my foam roller again.

So there it is. My goal in print. And it should be understood that this idea is still a big IF. But I have decided that I have to try.

Keep Smiling Keep Moving,
-Paula