Goody for Me
I ran today and I ate well today and I got a new job today and my relationship seems to have a future after all today and it was a really, really good day. It's been a long haul through a dark stretch lately and it feels so good to just shake it off and feel optimistic again for a change.
The new job is a promotion and little bit of a raise and most importantly, it's an escape from a job I've felt trapped in for years now. It's for the same company, so I don't lose my bennies, but it's for a different division so I don't have to work with any of the same people and I can make a fresh start. The minor downside is that it's odd hours with no consecutive days off plus two overnight shifts, but that's a temporary thing of 3-4 months hopefully. And besides, for a runner, that frees up quite a few daylight hours to get the miles in.
As for the miles, if I really do want to leave myself the option to span the canyon and back in November, I need to both run longer and get stronger. I think I can do it on only 4-5 days of running, averaging 10 with a long run of 20-30 every week. I'll give myself at least two days of recovery and add in more ab work, stair climbing, lunges and hills. I'll build in two or three really endurance tests of at least six hours of easy running, probably up in Westchester County at the hilly Rockefeller Preserve, and I think that will get me where I need to be. That won't make it easy by any means, but I think it will make it possible. I don't know. I don't want to be stupid about this endeavor, but I'm feeling drawn to test myself right now in a big, scary and very personal way.
So for anyone who was worried, this Chelle girl is doing just fine. Life throws you some punches now and again, but like I said before, you just have to put your head down and plow right on through it.