Conflicting priorities - the road less traveled

With apologies to Robert Frost, two of my roads are diverging and I have chosen to take the one less traveled by, but that has created something of a dilemma.

In less than three weeks now I'll be toeing the line at the Glass City Marathon and am poised to run my fastest marathon in a dozen or more years.  To realize that goal, I need to execute the plan which was so carefully crafted some four months ago.  This includes an effective taper from here to race day, a gargantuan effort on race day and then a smart recovery period of not less than two weeks. 

The other road leads toward that mountaintop I just recently decided to travel toward, the one called the Woodstock 100 mile Ultra Marathon.  Sticking to my original marathon plan essentially means 5 weeks out of an already short ultra training plan.  A hardcore marathon effort could be a detriment to the ultra plan.

Sorry that I cannot travel both roads, long I sit, considering the options both.

My desire is to make the Ultra about something so much bigger than myself, that the journey would serve to motivate and inspire others to travel their own roads less traveled.  The marathon goal is more self-serving, desiring to satisfy more selfish goals.  Said that way, it seems easy to suggest I sacrifice the one for good of the greater, nobler goal.

And yet, long I sit...

Daily we are faced with countless decisions.  Each one leads us either closer to or further from the goal.  A failure to decide is a decision in itself.  Lack of goal setting, planning and decision making will lead to a life of default rather than design and destiny.

May we all, like Robert Frosts Traveler, say "I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference".

Press On Friends.

Update: The deal is done.  Perhaps I knew all along, in my heart of hearts, that this Ultra is really about something so much bigger than myself.  Feels like a destiny moment.  For that reason, I must unashamedly, unabashedly pursue such a moment.  Something I recently read struck a cord, regarding pre-Ultra races, the author suggested racing such that you are "used, but not used up".  That will be my goal on marathon day.

Never say never!

Years ago, probably more like a couple of decades, I had this awesome poster with a picture of a runner, running in the dark and snow, silhouetted by the light of a lamp post.  Superimposed on the poster was the inscription "I used to think people that ran in the rain were nuts, when I started doing that I decided that people that ran marathons were crazy.  So here I am, it's five o'clock in the morning, it's snowing, and I'm out here training for a marathon..." 

So goes, so very often, the tale of runner turned marathoner.

My wife has always said she would never become a runner (though she has always liked to walk a bit).  Eight weeks ago or so, in the early weeks of my own marathon training, she spent some time on the race web site and in what she describes as a moment of weakness, signed up to walk the half-marathon.  She has taken to the training program, including an 11 miler last week AND SHE LIKED IT!  This weekend she actually got up at 4 a.m. to head to a race with me and walked 8 miles while I ran.  Her walking, which used to typically consist of a trip around a  block or two, and was as much about an opportunity to hold hands (with me, that is) and talk to the neighbors, has become an honest to goodness fitness pursuit.  Who'd have ever thought...

I used to be like that guy in the poster.  And then I ran a marathon.  And then I did a triathlon.  And then Ironman.  And then a 50 mile ultra-marathon.  So goes the tale of the long distance runner...

The ultra-marathon.  Any distance beyond the 26.2 miles of a marathon.  For me it is like uncharted territory.  A mountain not yet climbed.  A question not yet answered.  My 50 miler was quite an adventure (check out that story here).  Honestly, though I talked afterward about going further someday I wasn't sure I really would - until last week when my wife and I agreed I'd go for the 100 miler at Run Woodstock this September.  Never say never...

My wife still says she will never be a runner.  However, she is already checking out the other race distances at Woodstock.  Never say never.

Perhaps you are sitting on the couch, and where you need to start is with a walk around the block.  Why not grab the hand of somebody close and head out the door.  Who knows, a whole new world of adventure (and fitness) may be revealed.  In any case, be sure to stop back here often - perhaps (hopefully) my journey of discovery may serve as an inspiration for your own.