Thunder boomed and lightning struck.
I’m looking out the window feeling dismayed. Since I didn’t run yesterday, I was pretty hell-bent on going today. But it’s not like I’m psyched up and ready to go.... it’s more like I’m feeling guilty.
The thing is: I didn’t run on Sunday, either.
I did, however, play a full game of soccer. Our rec league just started up again after a winter-long hiatus, but that doesn’t show up on my tracker in Strava. So it looks like a gap—a demerit against my consistency—even though it isn’t. That damn calendar view showing which days of the month I ran plays mind tricks on me. I don’t even care about the metrics all that much.
I’m not a “do it for the stats” kind of guy. I do like a nice consistency streak, though... their app developers got me good in that regard. Still, I’m watching waves of rain crash down and wondering if I could do something inside if I had to. Maybe an AMRAP of burpees, squat-thrusts, and crunches? I decide to wait and see what happens with the weather, turning my attention back to my work.
When I finally look up again, I’m not quite sure how much time has passed. All I know is that it’s not raining right now. Truth be told, I’m kinda mad about it, too. I hadn’t been all that excited about running before, it was something I was going to do begrudgingly. But now, I’m feeling exhausted.
I do not want to run.
The sky is clear-ish, but darkness looms in the distance. I figure it’s probably now or never.... and a glance at the clock confirms it.
Shit.
As I’m getting dressed, I’m reminding myself that I never regret writing and I never regret going for a run. I know I’m right, and that in itself is annoying. Pulling my shoes on, I calmly explain to my petulant self that while I may not always want to run (or write), I’m always glad I did.
I’m right again, and I know it.
Yuck.
Our Daily MAP Year Prompt
247/365
Do you push yourself to do stuff you don’t like, but that you know will pay off later? Why?
onward.
For more on this daily column and The MAP Year Project, read the backstory.
Sign up to get it here.