Change is good...

So I think I have finally figured through all the "work" stuff I was struggling with. It is with mixed emotions but I am no longer taking on any new work as a self employed remodeling contractor. I was recently presented with an excellent opportunity to work for a large, well respected Maine contracting company and I am now (once again) "workin' for the man". It has been a couple of weeks and I think I'm really going to like it. I have never felt more welcome anywhere in my life. My commute is a long one (37 miles) so I just bought a little Honda Accord to run back and forth with. This change, like any other, has had a trickle down effect to all the other constants in my life. I can no longer drop my daughter off at school in the morning, or pick her up in the afternoon. I'll miss that the most. We had a good run, I was able to do these things for the last five years or so and I loved every minute. Now she's getting to the age where I embarrass her by being me so maybe this is a good thing! This change has also caused me to revaluate my commitment to my training. I can no longer swim in the morning and by the time I get home at night I want to see my family. It will shake out and I have decided I'm not going to try to push it. This is a transition and transition takes patience, something I don't have. But I must be patient. I also want to make sure I am 100% focussed on my new job. I have a steep learning curve, this will require tons of effort and attention. Bring it on.

Yesterday I got on the bike and trainer to punch out a couple of hours with the boys of the Speed Lab and I quickly realized something was wrong. I couldn't bring myself to push past 140 watts. My throat was a little sore but I blew it off and kept riding. Mistake. One hour and forty minutes later I got off the bike and wondered why I'd even rode. I was getting sick, I knew it. I must be run down from all the recent change, etc. This can be stressful on you I guess. So I did not run afterward. I really wanted to run with Dave after as he is training for Lake Placid and I've been trying to do some of his longer stuff with him to help get him through it - AND because I like long workouts. Today I woke up planning to race the Irish Rover 5k. I was looking forward to giving Steve Tenney and Jeff Small a face full. Not today. Full blown sore throat and getting worse. Neat. These guys are going to think I'm ducking them. Nah, they know me better than that. This whole "race day sickness" thing is getting tiresome though, what a beautiful day out there and I can't race. Bummer. I suppose I could race, but that would be irresponsible. I will root for my friends instead and appreciate the times I CAN race all the more!

So, my words of wisdom for this post? Nothing is forever, enjoy what you are doing while you are doing it because it can be gone in an instant. Embrace change, put yourself out there, you cannot possibly predict the good things that can happen by having the courage to step out on the ledge and see what lies beyond. Put in 100% (or more) everyday, you never know who might be watching you.

Grip it n' Rip It.