To all my running friends for "the hard days"

Today it rained on my run.  Not one of those nice light drizzles.  Nor one of those annoying off & on showers that leaves you feeling grosser than when it started.


No, today's rain was a sudden torrential downpour that threatened to turn the run into a swim.  It stung my eyes, hurt my exposed skin, and soaked my key fobs (creating a very awkward moment between myself and the campus police officer).

And the thought of giving up on my run was present.  And were it a lesser run (or maybe even a stronger rain), I might have.  But this was track day.  This was mile repeats day.  This is what I love to do.  They are tough, they push me, and each time I finish a track day... there's just a certain joy and radiance.

My friend, and running mentor/brother, Floyd Wellborn once talked with me about motivation for hard runs and about running races.  He asked (and I paraphrase):
Ryan, what are you going to say when your daughters hit a hard spot?  Are you going to tell them it's okay to quit.  That just showing up is enough?  Or are you going to look them in the eye and spark in them the belief that it's not always a matter of "how you feel" or "if it hurts"... you'll look at them with dignity and say, "Sometimes you have to take the hard to enjoy the win."

So today, I took the hard.  I met (and bettered) my mile time on each of the three repeats.  Because I want to be ready for the next hard day.

I want to know and I want the hard day to know; I'm tougher than it is.