The day after Christmas

Have you ever noticed that there's a post race let down? No matter if you're coming off the high from a PR or grieving over a tanked race. It's like the day after Christmas. All the preparations are done. It's taken months. Plans and lists are followed religiously. You've done your best, dotted the i's and crossed the t's. Then in just a few hours time, it's over. And while you're left with an awesome medal around your neck (or a living room full of wrapping paper, empty boxes, and bows) you can't help but feel a little sadness that it's over. You know there's next time, but it's over for now. And while when you're young you have the spoils of Christmas to play with the days after, as an adult I might look kind of silly wearing my medal to the grocery store a week later. (That's not to say you can't wear it around the house with doing dishes and such.) And as added insult, there's not supposed to be any running for a week. So the thing that makes you happy and gets rid of the blues is forbidden. What's a girl to do?

Well for me I think that this time is the best for reflection. It's when the highlights seem to shine through. It's when I make plans to fix the things that didn't go well. But mostly I've been hit with this great sense of gratitude. I've become even more grateful for friendship over the last couple of days. My relationship with Heather, my other good friends, my family, and the bloggers whom I've never met, yet share and support me. Today as I reflect, I'm not focussing on possible mistakes or sadness. I'm just reveling in the feelings of friendship. It's a pretty great thing. And it makes me want to be a better friend. Thanks again to all you out there that inspire me and make me want to try again.