You've heard the expression, "Good health and good sense are two of life's greatest blessings." Health is such a blessing that I so often take it for granted. That's why I was so happy to be back running today after a layoff due to a head cold last week. I'm a big believer in not running when you're really tired or even just a little bit sick. You could always slog through, but potential long term damage might not make it worth it.
That's hard for me to admit because I'm definitely in the stubborn category. I know the rules but I'm guilty of not following them sometimes. So it felt really good to be active again today. My energy levels have definitely returned and I am eager to get back to my usual weekly mileage.
Life is so precious and so fleeting. Believe me, the older I get, the more I realize that. I am also getting better at listening to my body. It will tell me when to run and when not to run. The most important thing is not to run races but to maintain your quality of life. This year I am looking forward to doing a better job of it. I know there will be changes in my running and I am determined to embrace them.
Today my entire heart is filled with gratitude toward God. In sickness or in health, he is my hope and happiness. In addition, I am forever grateful for his gift of running. It's always a means of getting perspective as much as it is a time of exercise. I am so glad I began running after Becky passed away. Running is probably one of my best ways to stay even-keeled. I know that if you are not a runner you're probably wondering -- why all this fuss about running? But for runners, running is part of our lives. When we can't do it, we suffer.
The moral of the story -- don't get discouraged when you are too sick to run. Having to rest for a few days is probably a good thing. Control what you can (rest, sleep, diet, hydration, fueling, etc.), and trust God for the rest.