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Week 34: And So It Begins...
Philosophical Dad Stuff
This past weekend was Easter. While we’d usually go to my in-laws for a delicious dinner, they weren’t around this year, so we celebrated with just our little family at home.
There were morning thunderstorms that gave way to brilliant afternoon sunshine.
We ate dinner outside on the patio, soaking up the cosmic rays along with each other’s happy company. After dinner we sat on the back steps eating cookies in the sun.
That’s when it hit me.
We were doing something the entire world wants to do.
Eat cookies in the sunshine with people you love; in peace.
At that moment, I felt overwhelmingly thankful and pointed out to everyone how lucky we were to enjoy that moment. Since then, my 3-year keeps telling me it’s his favorite part of every day. (it’s only been two days I guess but still)
These moments of pure contentment are few and fleeting.
Recognize them when you can and appreciate them all the time.
Life is weird, we should enjoy it while we can!
Couch to Ultramarathon…and Beyond
Today is Day 2.
Which meant there was a Day 1. Coming up in a few weeks, I’ll spend some time writing about another Day 1, but for now, it’s the 100k training block.
And it’s on. It’s so on.
Yesterday was a strength workout, and I’m sore already. Today was running. Twice.
My coach has me doing two-a-day runs for 4 days a week. Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fryer.
The meal plan is surprisingly good, and just having a few healthy meals taken care of each week frees up so much decision bandwidth for the other few dinners.
We tend to think of healthy behaviors as being cumulative, but it’s not true. The real truth is that these behaviors are multiplicative. Each good thing begets the next. And the next.
And the next.
I feel better already. Which gives me confidence to keep going. I’ve learned to celebrate the small wins while being patient with myself.
It’s one thing that ultrarunning has definitively taught me.
I’ve also grown to notice very small changes in how I feel. I’m more in tune with my body.
Which means I notice small problems more readily, but I also discern progress more acutely.
This process of becoming; of becoming the type of person who can run 65 miles in the mountains is going to be an interesting challenge.
And one that will result in me becoming a different version of myself. A stronger one. A faster one.
Hopefully a wiser one as well.
LFG.
“Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets; for it and knowledge can raise men to the divine.” -Ludwig von Beethoven
Live triumphantly. See you next week.