Hey, I just did a public race, in November, in CHICAGO, at 6AM!

Some personal accomplishments

1.) I never stopped running throughout the 5K

2.) This was the first time running outside, in a crowd

3.) this is the first time Julie and I ran together and my time was WAY up because of it. (By WAY up I mean I averaged a 10:15 mile rather than the codgerly-run of 12 min-miles  I normally stumble through).

Some fun after-effects are that I want to do a 10K; my irrational fear of running outside is lessening, and I somehow feel like I’m a better person for doing this. I still hate running, and it feels silly to feel like I accomplished something simply by running a certain distance, but given the amount of pain incurred for running a 5K, I can rationalize both away. Have no fear, folks…

I will tell you now, as a business-owner of 5 years

There are those days

those days that you do not live for

those days that are painful, brutal, the ones you do not want to show up to the office for

the ones that are above your paygrade

you don’t get to avoid those days

those days come and you deliver

there are those days that are crucial

painful, brutal

they make it all unworthwhile

they make it open, and they are bleak.

those days are the days you recognize that you are doing something bigger, and probably making a big mistake

those days are very very difficult, and it’s your best to make sure you leave with dignity intact.

I believe we live for, and hide from, those days.

Today was that day.

I hope to never have another, but I know if I don’t I’ll never fulfill the promises of this company, the people here, and to myself.