Next weekend (Oct. 25) is the Virginia Capital Trail 10 Miler in Richmond. I wasn't going to do this race since I had done it twice before, but my son-in-law Tino said he'd run it with me so it's definitely on my calendar. I know better than to treat it merely as a training run for December's ultra. I won't. If I get out there, I race. How's that for being pig headed?
Now there's one thing you need to know about Tino. He is in superb shape. So in order to not hold him back too much, I decided to get in a 10 mile run today.
It netted 22,000 steps. It was an easy run on the Tobacco Heritage Trail. I saw no one else on the trail. Fortunately, I don't mind running alone. Then I went and got my reward. The local Chinese buffet made no profit off of me today. Sorry, no pictures of my meal -- I was too busy scarfing down my food.
Meanwhile ... psyched out. That's how I'm feeling about racing with my son-in-law again. A few years ago we ran a 4-miler in DC together and it was more fun than watching a drunk driver parallel park. The 10 miler in Richmond is an out and back. 5 miles out, 5 miles back if you need help with the math. The way out is uphill and mostly challenging. The way back is the easy part. Nice. I like to end my races on a strong note. I enjoyed today's run so much I decided to top it off with a few sets of chin ups.
Always remember: You can accomplish whatever you set your mind to. It took me years of lifting before I was able to do one full chin up and I can tell you the feeling was amazing. I'd worked so hard for so long and all that work finally paid off. I was able to pull my body up to the bar. More importantly, I was training because I loved it not because I had to or for the way it made my body look. That's when the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle started clicking together and I understood that the nutrition and exercise were working together perfectly to give my body exactly what it needed. I feel like I am blessed beyond measure because I have ended up with the best hobby and the best passion and the ability to hopefully inspire others to achieve the same things. The great thing about training is that you're always seeing improvements and you're getting stronger and fitter all the time. What fun!
I'm going to stop my incessant yapping now and get ready to head out to the fields. Yep, I know it sounds too good to be true, but we just started our third -- yes, I said, THIRD -- cutting of hay this season. What a great day to thank God for his goodness and to enjoy his presence! Do not grow weary in the battle, dear friend, even though God sometimes gives you more than you feel you can handle. With God, we can climb mountains! When we seek him, he will be there. He gives us the needed strength, courage, and hope. May you find joy in your journey, knowing that he is upholding you through all the ups and downs!