December Days

The Christmas carols are playing on the radio, and my VISA card is showing signs of strain. It must be December.

This is the toughest month for me to run through. The days are short, dark and full of excuses. Races are far off, the clothing is buried deep in my drawers, and my hat is nowhere to be found. The idea of baking a batch of cinnamon rolls is far more appealing than slogging out 7 miles in the rain.

Still, I persist. I managed 5 miles today, including speed drills - right on target for my marathon training program. I didn't make a single baked good. Yet. (The idea of cinnamon rolls is making my mouth water at the moment.)

This is like mile 18 of the marathon. Still so far to go, but man, does it hurt to keep going. It would be far easier to call it a holiday, take a month off. But the truth is, like in the marathon, where the walking hurts as much as the running, taking a break has its own pains. And they aren't the ones I want to feel right now.

So tomorrow I'll lace up the shoes, throw on the raingear if necessary, and do it all over again.