Day 49 (10/12): 3 miles / 26:16

Physically, I feel fantastic... but I'm mentally exhausted...

I wasn't setting out to break any records with today's run.  What I really wanted, however, was to be done with these 3 miles as quickly as possible so that I could move on to lounging around in my pjs, watching tv and, in general, being a lazy bum.  Needless to say, I'm thrilled with my time and I'm fairly certain it was my fastest run on the treadmill to date, averaging about an 8:45 per mile pace.

But I honestly didn't want to run at all today.  I'm beginning to feel very overwhelmed with my schedule these days and, unfortunately, there's not too much I can do about it.  The only thing I could potentially cut out is my training, which just doesn't seem to be the best option for me if I'm hoping to run a marathon in the spring.

The truth is, while I'm thrilled he's doing it, my husband going back to school has changed things dramatically.  I don't even recognize our life anymore... and we're only 4 weeks into his schooling.  I try to tell myself that his masters program will only take a year and a half, but that sounds like an eternity right now.  Add to that his already busy work and travel schedule and I feel like I barely even see him anymore.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that, even if I didn't run, it wouldn't mean more time with my family... after all, I run after my son goes to bed and most often while my husband is traveling or doing his school work.  If it weren't for running, I'd likely be spending that time watching tv anyway.

So, with no takers on my invitation to watch chick flicks and drink wine this evening, I decided to go ahead and run my scheduled 3 miles.  And thank goodness I did.  While I still have the same burdens I did before I started, at least I finished my workout feeling good about myself and was able to get out a little of that frustration I'd been feeling.  I'm still missing my husband every night that he's away and every time he needs to study on the weekends, but at least I feel I'm doing something useful with my time.  I don't remember the last time I felt this good physically and, with all of the calories I'm burning, I don't feel so bad about sitting down with a giant bowl of ice cream on the days I'm feeling a little down.