Why do we find it so hard to walk away from a race, even when we know it’s the right decision?

On Saturday afternoon, my mind was made up. I wouldn’t run. I hadn’t given my ankles a proper chance to heal since turning them over. Running wouldn’t help them recover any quicker and could do damage. It just wasn’t worth the risk. Decision made.

Maybe.

Then I started checking out Facebook and Twitter. So much marathon anticip-p-p-p-pation! The whole world is racing on Sunday! I want to race on Sunday too!

Perhaps I could just do the half.

The route runs past the end of my road. I could start, see how I get on, and then drop out if I need to and I’m only minutes from home.

You never know, I might have a really good run…

At this point, my oh-so-patient husband was starting to glaze over ever so slightly whenever I mentioned the Taunton marathon. Is running indecision grounds for divorce?

We did a short pre-marathon loosening up run together which felt pretty good. Maybe I could….

In the words of a thousand motivational posters, we only regret the chances we didn’t take, right?

Um, no.

I’d regret it a whole lot more if running today messed up my chance of running tomorrow. And the next day.

I want to keep on running and feeling good. Which I won’t do until my ankles are properly recovered.

What stuck in my mind was a post I read a while ago from Chris Fielding at Barefoot Beginner, about taking risks and keeping perspective around running plans and goals:

“Run the miles that feel right. Be prepared to go with the flow and live to run another day if needed.”

So. Finally. Decision made. Yes, really.

In the end, I chose to go along and support. Did I feel a twinge of regret as the runners swept by on their way to half marathon and marathon glory? Hell, yes!

But this week, I’ve been running nice and easy and my ankles are already thanking me for it.

I’m living to run many, many more days 🙂
Photo Credit: sean dreilinger via Compfight cc