doing it

I did the 18 mile run today.  In the cold rain.  It started raining around the second mile and kept up the rest of the dang run.  I was freezing when I got back to my billeting room.  I started the shower, peeled off my clothes, and discovered I'd put a couple holes through relatively new socks.  Last week I bled through one of my socks and this week I put my toes through both of them.  On the plus side, I only have one more training run that's longer than what I did today!

This is the last week of my TDY.  I can't wait to get home and see my boys.  Ralph's been having nightmares and Schmitty's been pretty grumpy whenever I talk to him.  I think I need to go home.  ;^)

grateful

I'm here in Dayton, OH, feeling so grateful this evening. I had a great run this afternoon of 12 miles. Our marathon is coming up in five weeks. Can you believe that? Five weeks! Lately, I've found myself in moments of deep satisfaction and gratefulness that my body has done everything I've asked it to. It's run up to 16 miles, birthed 2 healthy children, and survived BMT and OTS.

I have two more really big runs before the actual race. Eighteen miles next Saturday and two weeks later 20 miles. Only two more really long runs and I'll make it to the race. It got me to thinking today about how I tried this 10 years ago but had such a horrible long run at the 12 mile point in the program that I kind of gave up. The difference this time is Yago. I am so thankful for Yago. He has been so good to me, better than I ever could have hoped of a husband and partner. Even when I have bad runs and complain at every stop light, when we finish he gives me a, "Good job!" and a, "You did it!" When I'm disappointed that I was slow and know I held him back he is completely unbothered and reminds me to be satisfied that I finished.

I read a couple of articles on the internet this evening about marriage with comments consisting of, "It's hard work," and, "You have to work at marriage." Yago and I are coming up on our sixth anniversary and the thing is... I don't feel like it's hard work or sacrifice. He is a really great person that I really love hanging out with. I like hearing his opinions and thoughts on everything. I find him so interesting and funny. I am truly grateful for all I have tonight. (And I haven't even started with kids... those are two different and very fun boys! I dread and can't wait for them to become men.)

running out of patience

I'm at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio for three weeks. I spent this evening frustrated because I couldn't find/follow a running trail. You would think the base that hosts the AF marathon would have some marked trails... but no! I was supposed to do a 4-mile run but it was probably more like three because I got lost and eventually gave up. Plus, I thought they'd have some paved trails but it was all concrete which is murder on my knees. Tomorrow night I have an 8-mile run and I will have no patience for getting lost. Next weekend is 18 miles, I don't think I'll survive 18 miles on concrete.