Plans change, roads swerve, or even disappear completely, but if a reason to do something really matters, a destination can be achieved in infinite ways.

Last Tuesday during my first run of the day, I was walloped by a heat wave, sick to my stomach with apprehension for the aftermath of the approaching Presidential debate, and sluggish from a weak night of sleep. I could’ve spun out in despair, berated myself for failing to execute my run workout correctly, (my favorite of the week), instead I thought, “Where can I go, and what can I do to turn around my crappy mood?”

**Post 12-mile run in Pacific Palisades.**

The ocean. The answer is 99.9% always the ocean.

I knew the forty-five minute drive would be annoying, but worth it.

However, my legs did not magically spring to life and propel me twelve miles in speedy fashion, not at all, my pace was a steady metronome of 8:30min. Mi., but I felt comfortable and content, which was not the kind of satisfaction I was expecting when I woke up that morning, but just like a Jr. High gentle letdown from a crush who confesses he thinks, “You’re neat,” but he likes your best friend, it was the kind of satisfaction I needed to snap back to reality.

I’ve had some fun and fast runs the past month or so, which have felt nothing less than euphoric, but I have been living the endurance life long enough to know that those runs do not happen every time out, it is unwise to believe they will, (don’t do that), but I am a romantic and can’t help myself, until “Kablooey!” In fact, my glowing inner optimist couldn’t help herself after finishing that steady twelve mile run, because next I drove another ten miles up the coast to run on my favorite four-mile stretch of Malibu Rd. in the hopes that my speed would pop-up after all.

It didn’t.

I ran those miles at 8:30min. Mi., pace, too.

Nevertheless, I was happy that I discovered multiple ways to run the assigned mileage, didn’t let failure clobber my spirit, and acknowledged for the millionth time that our bodies, thoughts, and emotions are shifting constantly, so when a feverish rush of overwhelm swoops in, it is best to be patient, breathe, and then follow the faith and flow that leads us back on course.

Speaking of staying on course, the adapted twelve mile run I ran last Tuesday served as a valuable recon mission for the first section of the run course for my upcoming event on November 8th, Taryn’s Iron Journey from the Valley to the Sea, which I am racing as a fundraiser benefiting the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

To learn more and DONATE to the event CLICK HERE:

Also, the song and video choice this week is an early 90’s favorite from Bon Jovi, Always.