I’ve been working a really tough project the last month and a half. I’ve worked 17 to 18 hours a day on it and my two jobs (except the day my dog died). As you could imagine, I’m running out of steam. Wisely, I haven’t given up exercise. The hour that I take out of my day has allowed me to keep pressing forward with some level of energy. I don’t just exercise to make myself pretty (I’m not sure it would help anyway.).
I’m coming up to the end of the project and last night it completely overwhelmed me. It has been two steps forward, one back and last night, it was two back. You have to understand, I’ve been living under deadlines for over a quarter century — I don’t miss them and they normally just motivate me. But I just folded like cheap tent.
This morning, I got up at 4:15 and ran 5.11 miles. It was muggy. My legs were tired. I wasn’t having fun. Like my project, I was struggling out there this morning.
When I got to the end of my street, I hit five miles. The road went from flat to a fairly steep incline. It was the final hill — the last .6 miles and it was straight up. I could have stopped and walked. I could have coasted in. But I sprinted until I finished up. And did my legs burn. Sometimes the finish is the hardest part. I was going to make sure I ran until the very end.
My project is like that. I have A LOT of work to do over the next five days. My body is worn out and my mind is more so. But I’m a pro. I train for this very thing. I’m at the final hill. It’s time to charge up it like a winner.
I started reading your blog after Dave Ramsey linked your Banjo entry, and I’m so glad I checked it out. My wife and I–parents of two Yorkies and a Bassett–started a weight loss lifestyle change last year, and we’ve been successful. I, too, am having a rough stretch in regards to work and am just now approaching my hill. Earlier today I was wondering how I was going to juggle everything I had to do today, actually this week, both at work and at home–thanks for the motivation to help me climb that hill.