A Special Kind of Stupid

It's hard to find balance.

I'm not talking about the split between running, cycling, swimming; I'm talking about the hard stuff. How do you maintain a happy marriage when part of your passion is miles of self-imposed exile? Sometimes you don't see the problem, let alone appreciate it, until it boils over. Case in point: it's winter. It's Washington. Sunday was cool and clear and I all I could think about was getting a few miles in on the bike and then going for a run. What I did not consider; the same beautiful conditions were available for my wife. My wife would have preferred a stroll by the water, a hike in the woods or holding hands at a local cafe as opposed to waiting around for me. In hindsight, I see clearly. Isn't that always the case?

My wife loves me. My wife supports me. My wife needs me to be there for her too. Relationships are a two-way street. To loose track of that after all these years takes a special kind of stupid. That would be me!

Here's the deal: I can run in the dark. I can run in the rain. We live in Western Washington where beautiful winter days are rare; very rare! Next time morning breaks into a perfect day, I hope I'm smart enough to take my wife for a walk and out to breakfast.

I can run tomorrow.