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The Deal!

Mmm... Cookies!
I like cookies. Do you like cookies? Well, actually, I LOVE cookies. You know what I like more? A good deal... Now, I'm not a big shopper, and try to do it only when I have to, but I can tell you that when I see a good deal, I like to take advantage of it. For instance, if I can buy two cookies for four dollars or ten cookies for eight dollars, I will always choose the 10 cookies... Wouldn't you?

Similarly, If I find an awesome pair of pants that are on sale, and fit well, I'll search for a different color and buy a few pair.

So, when I'm training for an event, and I'm putting in mile after mile, I may as well train for several, don't you think? It is kind of like getting a good deal. Train for a half marathon, but squeeze in a 10 miler and a 5 k while I'm at it? Why not?

First of all, I am a finish line lover, not an addict because I don't need a finish line every weekend, but it certainly feels good when I cross a finish line. But, like with food, there is a threshold in which you quit enjoying Chipotle (or Jimmy John's) because of over consumption, and just need to eat at Panera instead. As I reflect on the one year I did about fifteen events in that year, the finish line started tasting a little like Chipotle.
One of my favorite finish lines.

Well it has been awhile since I have over indulged in 'eventing', and I find myself getting the bug to sign up for a million races. I have some real, and make believe barriers that are keeping me from signing up.


  • The cost of races can be participation prohibitive. I have a cost per mile rule. Basically, I will not pay more than ten dollars per mile for a race, and no more than 150 for any given race. With that being said, even ten, thirty dollar races add up! 
  • Until this past week, the fatigue I have been experiencing has been overwhelming. Basically, to get myself to do anything that would be considered unnecessary was a challenge. For instance, scrubbing the toilet wasn't necessary, so it never got done. And I hate to tell you folks, a deal is not a deal if it is to get you to purchase a cleaning supply, so there are limited resources hanging around my house for that purpose. But notice I did say until this week... For some reason, this week my energy came back. The MS fatigue is gone, and I'm basically back to being the energizer bunny... So maybe it is time to sign up for every race?
  • The garden is something that I have been talking about for a couple of years, and now I have the ability to make it happen, thanks to the most awesome friend! If I want to play in the dirt this summer, I need to give myself some space to plant and tend to the garden! 
  • Injury potential for me is much higher because I favor one side of my body. I favor the right side of my body, because my left side is weaker than my right. I'm working on improving this, but for now, there is a real potential for injury! Because of this, I need to take it slow and recognize that I have temporary limitations that need attention before I over event in 2016?
  • I might not have enough GU! In the spirit of the half marathon training this year, I decided to just dive head first into the world of GU by buying in bulk, it was a deal. What if I run out of GU? Will I be able to continue training?
And so I am sitting here, looking at that list, and none of it really has me convinced that I shouldn't sign up for a few more races, after all, my body will likely be ready since I'm training for a half marathon... AND I feel like I need to take advantage of this deal!


What would you do?

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