In The Moment

One of my best pieces of advice I give to runners is to tell them to run the mile you’re in. But last month reminded me to run the race you’re in as well. 

I tend to pack my year full of events. Sometimes I question why I do it. Why, for instance, would I run a backyard race in Greeley in deep mud and pouring rain, all night, with four other people when my 100-miler was just a month away? 

Well, because, as it turns out, the 100-miler never happened. I’ve already told you what happened, and I don’t want to repeat it. But damn, hurricanes suck, even for those who live in Colorado like me and generally don’t have to worry about them. 

As it turns out, the backyard race was really fun, and had I been too worried about my 100-miler and not done it, I wouldn’t have those fond memories. It wouldn’t have led to a great career opportunity (more on that below). And honestly, it would have made most of the summer feel like a wasted year instead of a pretty damn good one despite the centerpiece A-race getting canceled.

YOLO isn’t just an excuse to say “fuck it” and do crazy shit. It’s a really good way to live your life because you really don’t know what will happen from one day to the next.

I got sick, as you also know, and it was pretty bad. I’m just now feeling myself again. Salmonella is probably as much fun as E-coli, though I really hope to never find out. Your health can leave you in a heartbeat, sometimes literally. 

As our Earth gets hotter, prompting storms to get fiercer, we need to come to grips with one thing: The weather will become more and more of a factor in our races. Sometimes that means they won’t happen. 

So when they do happen, and you toe the line healthy and ready to run, be grateful for both. Be present in the race, and don’t call it a training run, or a B race or something casual. Care about it. Love the opportunity.

And always do your best.