Gaining Perspective

This week I have been taking care of my mental well being. While I've worked hard on the physical aspect, the mental portion of ourselves needs taking care of as well.

I've spent the last two days at the Monastery of the Holy Cross, here in Chicago.

www.chicagomonk.org

While I had many issues I wanted to work on, mostly I was resting my mind. The first day I took a rocking chair out on the porch of the guest house, and slept a good portion of the day. When I wasn't sleeping, I was reading and writing. One book I took with me was about a runner with an incredible story of survivial.

Gilbert Tuhabonye, story of surviving the genocide in Burundi, and trying to qualify as an Olympic runner is an awe inspiring story.

http://www.gilbertsgazelles.com/

I thought about my running and what it means to me. I came away with a fresh attitude about running. It's not only good for my body, but my soul as well.

As for my running the half marathon, I am fine with that. My goal is to finish the race. Having seen the course in South Bend, I feel in order for me to finish the race, I need to run the half marathon. There is nothing wrong with this, and I am fine with it. There will be, in fact, other marathons to run. Several people have pointed out what Kelly wrote in her respsonse to my last post. So I am not disappointed in running a half marathon. Believe me, that will be a huge challenge for me.

This weekend I am off to Wisconsin to visit family. I may try to get a run in as well.

:-)Charlie