Day 336 - Shrug and move on

Some runs are perfect. Most are pretty good. Some suck for reasons beyond your control. And sometimes, it's your fault.

But one of the beauties of running is that even a horrible run ends. And even the worst run is better than no run. As soon as the run is over, it's over. Tomorrow you can have a brand new run, a chance to redeem yourself. Or just to forget.

It would be great if the rest of life were so forgiving, right? Instead, our real-life mistakes follow us around. They stand next you, testament to your weaknesses, or ignorance, or laziness, or plain poor decision making.

How great would it be to end a bad day the same way you end a bad run. A shrug. A shower. A solemn promise to yourself not to make THAT mistake again.

Well, here's the thing. You can do that. You don't have to beat yourself up over your f'ups. Just like the run, it's over and in the books. It's too late to go out slower, or push the hill harder, or start your finish kick sooner.

And it's too late to listen to that voicemail you ignored. You had your chance, but you aren't going to finish the document on time. You can't go back in time and do that thing you were supposed to do before you left work. The fight happened, you can't take back what you said.

Life isn't a spreadsheet. You can't undo. But also, no one's keeping a running total. No one but, maybe, you.

Don't drag your past around. Shrug, be honest with yourself, try to make amends and/or apologize if appropriate, promise yourself to try to do better, and, if you need to, take a shower.

Good running,

Doug

Numbers: 3.4 miles on asphalt.