'Cuz Waking Up Is Hard To Do

It's the first week of March, and although snow still surrounds us, it seems high time to end this blog's arbitrary, self-imposed hibernation. So, this blog has awoken.  I, too, am back into a groove of waking up to embrace the day . . . and sometimes, even, to run. :-)  The final way in which this post's title works is that it feels like my mind and consciousness have also awoken, as exciting things are brewing in my professional world, while there's a lot to take in and process in the civic realm.

As of today, I am happy to report that I have run on 52 consecutive days.  The overall mileage has been nothing special, but after an extended training malaise dating back to the summer of 2011, just getting back to running every single day feels like an accomplishment worth sharing.  I'm close to my second longest running streak (having run 100+ days in early 2011).  Most importantly, though, I've eliminated running as a question mark in my day.  That I will run is a given.  With the help of a training schedule geared towards a late-May marathon, structure has returned to my running life.  And that's good. It's satisfying.  It's productive.  It's healthy. So, it's actually quite very good.

A whole heck of a lot has happened since I last posted in the summer of 2012.  Highlights:

• Moved my office
• Ran two marathons and an ultramarathon in three consecutive weekends (October-November 2012)
• Committed to be an Achilles Guide at the NYCM, but Superstorm Hurricane Sandy had other plans
• Dropped out of the JFK 50-Miler, at Mile 19, after my whole right side basically stopped working at Mile 17
• Moved my home
• Moved in with my beloved, and two cats
• Have started rock-climbing
• Will soon be doing occasional guest reviews for a running-shoe-oriented blog
• Committed to being an Achilles Guide at Boston this year

Of course, challenges still abound, but I'm seeing fewer obstacles and more opportunity.  And, it's a comfort to know that running is there each and every day, be it on snowy trails, steep hills or on a treadmill in the rock-climbing gym while watching folks contort themselves gracefully up steep simulated rock faces. It's something I can control.  It belongs only to me, yet I can share it with whomever I choose.

More running, racing, meditating and blogging to come.  Consider yourself warned.

-Ron