A Little Late

I am starting to feel the burn of training, working, managing an event, being a parent and having a life! I won't lie. Last week was another 50 mile week (just over 51) followed by this week. It is Thursday morning and I have only finished roughly a 5k. There are reasons for that this week rather than excuses which is nice.

Getting the second round of the vaccine on Monday wiped me out Monday night and Tuesday. I was fortunate only be exhausted compared to those that have had it much worse, but it completely derailed the start of my week. Cap that off with things getting very busy I am finding it hard to make time the rest of this week, but as I always say if it is important you will always make the time!

This is also becoming much more important and real for me. When I first thought of this challenge I felt like it would be a fun idea that would truly push me to my current limits mentally, physically, and emotionally. I also kept it in my mind that if Kevin could fight through the past 7 years of pain, surgery, chemo, and all the awful things that colorectal cancer has forced him into then I could deal with 7 days of pain to support him. Even with all of this it still felt like an idea or a fantasy. Something I wanted to do and would do, but almost like there was no pressure. Now the pressure is starting to build and I won't lie, I am a bit scared!

This week has been a big week for me and the Pain in the Canal Challenge. With a guest spot on DizRuns Podcast coming up next week, a national sponsorship from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, and talks with a major university essentially using me as a lab rat to see the various effects this kind of run will take on my body (which I am stupidly excited to see how that plays out) I have the corporate world starting to look at me. The perspective has changed a bit from "I want to do this" to "I am doing this" and it is frightening but exhilarating all at the same time!

I throughly believe in the power of accountability and typically like to say I hold myself accountable fairly well, especially with training. But now there is more behind it. Now the prospect of raising a good amount of money for the Buffalo Colon Corps is real and I am feeling my feet held to the fire a bit. This is all me of course, and what I signed up for, but never did I believe it would get as big as it is!

Then there are the people I am meeting. The new friends I have met that have lost loved ones to colorectal cancer and hearing their stories. Then hearing them tell me I am motivating them on a daily basis to not only live a healthier life, but to honor their loved ones through their physical pain. Due to an error a woman has already completed the entire 361.5 miles of the virtual challenge. She emailed me a few days ago to tell me about this. Not only did she have some of the kindest words to say to me, but she is also going to keep pushing and make sure she hits another 361.5 miles during the window of the challenge. 

Between the business side and the personal side of this wonderful idea that is growing beyond anything I ever really imagined I feel an obligation now more so than ever and feel guilty when I do not have the opportunity to train and prepare as I feel I should. But rather than sit in this pit I hope to use it to push me farther!

By the end of this weekend I plan to update this site with our new corporate sponsors, our athletic sponsors, and start putting up a lot of information for colorectal cancer awareness month. We plan to have a number of different things happening this month to honor those who are and who have fought this awful disease and lived/are living with the real pain! I hope you don't mind the rant about all of this during this post, but an athletes mentality is essential to their training so sometimes I need the sounding board to get myself straight. Time to really push myself and see what I can do in a short amount of time.