Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Double Digits and Milestones

We are a few weeks out from the first event, the Cary Long Course Duathlon. I was looking at the event details online when I realized that I am going to need to run ten miles. For some reason I thought it was six miles. Not that 10 is that much more, but I think there is something psychological when double digits are involved. Double digits are always a big milestone, regardless of the context.

I wonder how my Dad felt as he approached his tenth year with Cancer. He never really talked about it, and I was too scared to ever ask. Perhaps there was a survival strategy in play there. The more we push our weaknesses away(try to ignore them), the more you can focus on your strengths, moving them to the front of your actions. Come to think about it Dad never talked to me about Cancer, only in thanking my mom for all of her sacrifice during the 11 years. He never spoke of the pain, the double digit surgeries, countless injections, pokes, or prods. Never wanted too...never did. He did, however want to talk about events, trainings, racing and a little bit about suffering. I remember the first time I told Dad I rolled triple digits on a bike ride. In his eyes a that was milestone worth noting.

I'll aim to hit double digits on a training run this weekend, maybe even tonight if the feeling is right. Maybe even aim for a personal milestone.

I suppose its time to get after it.

-E