balance in boomtown

2011 is off to a busy start.  I'm in the process of jacking up my mileage in preparation for the 50K Championships in early March, while being mindful of balancing it with my other commitments.  That is, in order to be best prepared, I need to run not as much mileage as I possibly can, but run as much mileage as I possibly can while upholding my other commitments, not being useless at my job, and keeping myself healthy...finding the sweet spot of training, as my brother likes to say.  While I know my body can handle a certain work load when training is my #1 priority, I have to discover how much my body can handle when there are other priorities and commitments.  I'm making a lot of time for running, but as is life, there are of course lots of other things requesting my time.

This was my first week incorporating some double runs and testing out my new morning routes.  Last year to maximize sleep and run time on my double days I would wake up and head out the door as quickly as possible to hit the cold pavement.  This year I decided it would be better to spend a little bit more time awake and moving...the old body doesn't always spring out of bed.  But, I need to maximize my time.  So, I've been getting up, driving part-way to work, doing my run, then going to work and cleaning up there.  Plus, the roads on the way to work are better to run on than the one in front of the house...at least in the snowy winter dark.  The doubles are treating me well and I had a good week of workouts.  (I'll try to write more about these, since they are probably more of interest...and I didn't forget that I owe you a training plan.)

Aside from running, teaching is going well.  It's been super busy coming back from break and with a new semester starting in another week, but I'm trying to keep it balanced too.

In the late fall, I inquired and looked into taking on the position of leading the Servant Leader Team of Discipleship at my church and was accepted for the position.  The position is to help coordinate and plan discipleship activities.  Programs such as the nursery, children's church, youth and high school programming, and adult education fall under the auspices of this team.  There are people in place who do a ton of great work for these programs and I"ll hopefully be able to offer support and guidance in this upcoming year.  Right now we are busy with a church-wide study program (r12) that I'm really excited about.  So, this is the other portion I'm balancing with the other two. 

I realized each topic could be split into mind, body, spirit.  Now, as long as I keep them in harmony and, of course, remember which is most critical.  (No, not running.)

Best wishes for a wonderful new year!!