Chopping wood and carrying water

"Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.  After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water."  Ancient Zen proverb. 

I can look at that finisher photo at the top of my blog and recall what it felt like.  That was one of the most amazing feelings, or, more accurately barrage of feelings, I have ever experienced.  I put so much intention and hard work into crossing that line, and it happened!  What do you do after you finally accomplish a goal that was four years in the making and one year in the accomplishing?  How do you top that?  My best answer so far is, you don't.  You pay a lot of respect to the wife, children, friends, employer, coworkers, and clients who patiently put up with your mad quest and allowed you to see it through, and reward them for your patience.  Athletically, you take it easy.  A couple weeks of recovery before recommencing training for this "mere" marathon on February 2, 2014, the Miami Marathon, which will be followed in November by a "goal" race, the New York marathon.

Try to do the little things well, enjoy the moments, not everything has to be a monumental struggle toward some great end!

Those long runs for that marathon are keeping me honest....