Don Quixote
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Silly me, I’ve unsuccessfully tried to formulate more than one running resolution but multiple resolutions seem to conflict with each other. So for the sake of simplicity in a life of chaotic complexity and to prevent me from chasing every visible windmill (race, running challenge, etc.) and battle like Don Quixote, I’ve narrowed my running resolutions to one: RESOLVED, I will simply run this year (2,014 miles) by December 31.
Yes, when I told people I was attempting to run 2,013 miles last year they thought I was crazy (and I agreed with them). The reality is I only fell 412 miles short.
Armed with a suggested running schedule by Run This Year personnel, I’m trying to find a way to reach that magic number. The schedule is very helpful and even includes rest days, whatever those are. (Run-streakers forget!) Probably will be alternating hard runs:easy runs pattern to some extent. I will tinker with the daily mileage slightly to make it fit my the demands of work and family. I can do this.
However, there are the pesky planning subquestions: 1. Will a marathon/marathons be necessary to reach this number? No but it could help. 2. Should I run a 50K this year? We’ll see in October. Perhaps. 3. Will my running streak continue? Yes, but for how long? 75 days (end of January)? A running buddy is aiming for a 100-day streak, maybe I’ll just join his 100 day target.
For now, the Run This Year goal helps me with some much-needed FOCUS: instead of pursuing 10 or more running resolutions and failing at many of them, I can burn off a ridiculous accumulation of stress and will keep momentum going with the strong running base I have established in the past year.
And so, for your own inspiration, I leave you with one of my favorite songs from Man of La Mancha, The Impossible Dream (lyrics by Joe Darion). RIP Peter O’Toole, who played Don Quixote in the fantastic film version of the musical below. The words of this song have paralleled so much of my life and sometimes I ask myself is this my life’s theme song? “To dream, the impossible dream, To fight, the unbeatable foe, To bear, with unbearable sorrow, to RUN where the brave dare not go, to right the unrightable wrong, To love, pure and chaste from afar, To try when your arms are too weary, To reach the unreachable star, This is my quest, to follow that star, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far, To fight for the right, without question or pause, to be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause. And I know if I’ll only be true to this glorious quest, That my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I’m laid to my rest, And the world will be better for this, That one man scorned and covered with scars, Still strove, with his last ounce of courage, To reach the unreachable star.”
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With only being 400 miles short last year, I see no reason why you won’t get there this year! We will help you stay focused!!!!
Thanks, I appreciate it, it’s just one more small step up, that’s how I look at it.