Traveling to a destination race sometimes is stressful – packing properly, getting to the airport on time, security, flying – none of which I had to deal with today. I drove from Cleveland to Washington DC with my friend (and running coach) and didn’t have to be concerned about time restraints or packing limitations. We even brought our favorite foods and three gallons of reverse osmosis water – how’s that for traveling with liquids? Thanks to modern technology, I plugged the hotel address into the GPS and followed the directions without having to open a map. The sun was shining the entire day – I couldn’t ask for better travel conditions or companions.

My training this week has gone very well. I have been tapering so my intensity has been greatly reduced, but my workouts have been quality. Yesterday I swam with my friends – my pace is back to where it was before I got sick, in fact it may be a second or so faster. This morning I ran easy for thirty minutes with a few sprints at the end. I feel good – my diet is returning to normal and my energy level is high. My back is still tight, but it is loosening. Tuesday I went for a massage and I swear the massotherapist was a Lithuanian massage god. At least that is how I felt after he worked on key spots to help release some of the tension in my back. It will take time, stretching, and more massage to work it out. After driving for over six hours today I was surprised that I didn’t feel very tight when I arrived. Even a tense area is showing signs of improvement.

I wrote a few weeks ago that I will take time to cherish my ability to exercise after having to take six days off when I had the norovirus stomach bug. Once I returned, I did take time to appreciate the gift of health and exercise. What I didn’t expect within two weeks was having several other life issues crop up to throw a wrench in my seemingly happy improvement pattern. And as the saying goes “this too shall pass”, it did. I still have much to juggle, but right now I am in a groove. I feel healthy and strong for the race on Saturday and overall I am in a good place. This may pass too, but for right now I am grateful to have each moment. Something also to cherish.