Punishing myself.
Today is my off day. So, as I am likely to do on off days, I recollect about training and fond memories. I began to recollect about running an XC camp with my coach and friends last August. It was at college, and we would spend the entire day running, eating, or talking about running. In any event, we were outside the whole day, amidst a group of people whom were all connected by a simple, common passion.

I checked GoogleMaps to zoom in on where we used to train. It was an environment that I absolutely adored. I would run on average 10 miles a day, sometimes more, and sometimes add cycling on to that in the morning. For no other reason than I could, and I was good at it. I didn’t try to out-do myself, I simply tried to enjoy doing this simple thing I loved.

I reflect now, and it has become something of a happy place. That preceded the single most enjoyable week of my life, a week of pre-season at a retreat in New Boston, New Hampshire. When I say this, I mean it: I could not have imagined, nor created, nor dreamed of a more spectacular manifestation of happiness.

I suffered a lot. I became injured. Tore a quad muscle. Was out for almost a month. In short, I sustained a litany of injuries, but returned on certain occasions that still give me chills and deeply ingrained memories today. These memories rejuvenated my life on more than one occasion. And that is why I rest today. To ensure I will develop more memories to come.

After all of this stress today, I plan on visiting my happy place tomorrow for a long run. Seeing how it goes. Then maybe scheduling some ART to alleviate this bubble/adhesion thing on my leg.