With apologies to Tom Petty

Well she was an American girl
Raised on promises
She couldn't help thinkin'
That there was a little more to life somewhere else

Week 1 of training done. 

If you know me well in the real world, you know that June has kicked my butt and the last 2 weeks have left me a ball of nerves.

My grandma died on June 8, my boss, who I see as a mentor and a friend, had her last day on Friday, and on Saturday morning, the car gave out... again. The day-to-day issues and inconveniences would be enough to up my stress level. But it's the larger picture - the uncertainty that accompanies change, the constant tug of weighing one decision over another, the sheer exhaustion from a dozen tiny stressors too inconsequential to name.  

After all it was a great big world
With lots of places to run to

I set the alarm for 6:00 am on Saturday morning, to make sure I'd have time to eat, dress and fully wake up and make it to Summer Safari training by 6:45 am. Well, to paraphrase Meatloaf, three out of four ain't bad. I was on my way downtown when the car just stopped running at an intersection less than a mile from my house. I got it started again, up a hill and onto a side street when it gave out again. 

Thankfully, on Saturday morning there's not a great demand for tow trucks so the wrecker arrived in record time. After banging around under the car for all of 30 seconds, the driver said, "yeah, your fuel pump isn't working." And that put an end to the hope of making it to Summer Safari, as it was already past 7:00 and I was a mile away. 

I walked to my office nearby, gathered a bag for my things and began the 1.5 mile walk home.

And if she had to die tryin'
She had one little promise she was gonna keep

Come 9:20 am and it was hot, muggy and I'd already walked over 1.5 miles, changed my sports bra, top and socks due to sweat and had to map and run a 6 mile course alone. (I'd also eaten a little more, lounged on the couch and felt sorry for myself for awhile as well).

Week 1 total activities:

Monday: 75 minutes EcoTrek
Tuesday: 75 minutes yoga
Wednesday: 4.15 mile run
Thursday: Rest
Friday: 30 minute walk
Saturday: 6.1 mile run
Sunday 2.5 mile run

God it's so painful when something that's so close
Is still so far out of reach

So today we begin Week 2, with high hopes for a better outcomes. Waiting for the call on what it will cost me to get 4 wheels back on the road. Wondering what direction the meetings on "next steps" for our department will take. Wishing I knew how to get rid of this distracting ache in my back. Ready for a speed workout tomorrow - as long as I can get to the track by 5:45 am.

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