Yeah, the green guy had it right. One thing I like to pretend I am is flexible, that things change and it is much easier to adapt than resist, most of the time.
(what the hell am I talking about?)
Oh, first, I found this today. Somehow it relates to what I’m rambling about. Not sure.
Now, where was I?
Oh yeah, being flexible. Lemme tell you a little story without really telling it all.
I’ve been running, as some of you know. This, to me, is a Big Deal because have you seen my picture? Me running is like Lindsay Lohan being mature. Or Paris Hilton keeping her legs together. (Did I just say that? I think I did).
Anyway, my blatant attempts at conjuring up a google search that doesn’t involve Emma Watson’s Boobs aside, I’ve been running, three times a week. I’ve been following a program that gradually increases the time and distance and now I’m up to thirty minute runs. Great. And there just so happens to be a 5K run (that’s about three miles in American) nearby on Saturday morning, and I already signed up because I get a free t-shirt and hopefully a coupon for a Big Mac or something but also because the money goes to charity. Cool, right?
Also, just this week (and totally unrelated to my running or Lindsay Lohan), my mother-in-law went to the hospital for a few days complaining of chest pains and dizziness. The Alert has gone out and her children are converging from various corners of the country to check on her. My flippant tone is because she seems OK: they already ran tests, found nothing, and sent her home, asking her to please not mix up her medications. (this is not the first time, nor will it be the last). So we are going to go and see her, possibly tomorrow.
Anybody see the scheduling problem? Now, it is not a big deal to me to miss the 5K run on Saturday. I really don’t have my heart set on running it. There will be another soon enough, and I can keep running my runs during the week and life will go on. But my wife says that I’ve “trained all summer for this” so she is telling me to run it, which means I can’t be gone with her to visit her mom and brothers and sisters.
So what do I do? Do I insist that no, I don’t wanna run (which isn’t entirely true, I admit I was a little disappointed when I realized I would miss it, but only for a minute or two) and that we go visit? Or do I send my wife alone, do the run, and perhaps call my near-death mother in law afterward and say “sorry, I had a 5K, glad you’re home from the hospital”?
There may be a compromise, all of us leaving Saturday after the run (it’s pretty early in the AM) and just not spending Friday and Saturday morning with family.
Finally, just why the hell am I putting this on my blog? I think just to sort out my thoughts. I dunno.
Along the lines of the Calvin you had, have you ever noticed that on Pop-Tarts there are two sets of Instructions? One for “Convetional” (Toasting) and one for Microwave. What does it take to heat a pop-tart in a toaster…maybe a minute thirty if you want it “dark”? Microwave instruction: Heat on high for 2-3 seconds. If you need your breakfast THAT fast, either you need to see a doctor about your glucose problems or you really need to free up your schedule a little.
If given a chance to avoid my in-laws, I would be thanking the heavens and not contemplate it any further. However, it appears you actually LIKE you in-laws so that could hamper things a bit. Your last idea sounds like the best. Do the run and THEN go.
can you wait until after the race? do you *really* want to spend two whole days with the family? if she’s really OK (or so it seems) and not on her death bed, you could just show up Saturday afternoon. You’ll be in a better mood, I think. and you aren’t allowed to wear the shirt if you didn’t actually race — you know that, right? it will be a huge mental boost and just finishing will be a reward for all the work you’ve put in.
This is a no brainer to me. Do the run. Then go. Or have your wife go ahead and then join her after the run. I think that because we are “beginning” runners…. not following up on a commitment is a slippery slope. And MIL isn’t in serious health… it’s more just to visit with everyone right?
Anyway… I’d do the run. But you are right that there are MANY opportunities to do 5K’s…. but having a DNF on your first one kind of sucks.
If wife is supportive…then I say do the run.
And if you do do the run…. GOOD LUCK! I’ll be rooting for you. And I want a race report too 🙂
Hugs
I agree with the others, do the run then go to the in-laws. I haven’t done a 5k since college… Good luck!
I’m no help, I agree with the others.
I say that as long as your wife is supportive… then run the race already.
I agree. Go after the race. There will still be time for your wife to be with her mother and siblings. I really believe all will be fine with that decision. It’s not like your mother in law is still in the hospital. If she is well enough to be home, she is well enough to wait to see your wife in the afternoon.