A perfect balance

Wednesday, September 12th

8:00 AM - 6 Miles - 39 min
River loop

Felt great this morning and thought about going further but decided to keep it short and run a little longer tomorrow. After work today, I had a massage appointment with Glenn O'Connor, which went very well. We talked a lot on different topics and he definitely gave me the massage I was looking for (as opposed to the one I got last month in Medford where they just moved stuff around and put me to sleep). I could certainly feel the difference as he was working on different muscles and could really tell what areas needed a little more work than others. I'll probably continue to see him this year on a regular basis and hopefully see some benefits from it all.

I've talked with several people recently about how I'm trying to do everything I can to improve my performances this year. As you all know, I've changed jobs, now I'm seeking out massage therapy, as well as physical therapy and possibly a podiatrist or orthotist if needed. But most of all, I'm changing my mental attitude towards it all. I really want to succeed in this aspect of my life so I'm making it more of a constant role in my everyday activities and decision making.

The job I have right now is pretty much perfect for this because where I'm still working a full work week and able to take home a decent paycheck, I'm also able to use that work time to talk to people about the sport along with all its wonderful mysteries that accompany it. I can read articles and books on training techniques, talk to physical therapists about injury prevention, or even just think about my own training throughout the day. I can do this without lacking productivity or meeting the demands of my job (which was not the case at CDM). I think this is a good balance for me because I'm also not at home all day doing nothing and just waiting for my next run or workout... I have things to keep me busy and keep my mind occupied throughout the day. So I am making running a bigger part of my life right now but I'm not letting it take over my life either. I still seek out get togethers with friends and family to fulfill a healthy social life and keep them at my highest priority. I also think about what I'll do later on down the road if/when running becomes a smaller role in my life. I may go back to school and/or look into other career options in nutrition, physical therapy, coaching/teaching, etc. I have plenty of things to think about and keep me busy so if running doesn't happen to go the way I'd like it to, though I'll be disappointed, it won't be the end of the world for me. I'll still have a wonderful family, amazing friends, and plenty of job options to occupy my time and fulfill my life's passions. I have a long journey ahead and am anxious to see what's on the next horizon.

Quote of the day:
"Some people excel when they focus solely on one thing [running], and other people need outside stimulation to keep them from going insane. I think it's specific to the individual, and for me, I feel like I'm still trying to find that balance.
.... I need to have other things going on in my life so I'm not such a slave to running. It [work] keeps me level headed and it keeps me able to look at running in a more objective way. I think for me, that's the type of balance I have to strike in order to continue to be motivated and continue to go through the ups and downs."

- Ann Gaffigan (Friend/role model/former American record holder) talking about her balance between work, a social life, and running.