I had planned a 10 mile race after a recent 5K. Like, the day after.
The plan was to run an “easy” 5K, that is, slow. To conserve energy, save my muscles for the longer 10 mile run the next day.
But I didn’t run easy, I ran hard. Faster than I’ve ever run before.
While I thought I felt fine, my body had other plans. An upset stomach, loss of sleep, yeah, just wasn’t going to happen.
I took a lot of risks on that 5K – choosing to not take it easy, running hard in mile one, then mile two. Choosing to keep chasing the #2 runner, when I could have easily just coasted in for a 3rd place finish.
But I pushed, and took a risk, and came in 2nd, and I don’t regret a thing.
I guess that’s what risk is, though. Not knowing what might happen, and being completely present. Sort of not worrying about tomorrow, because right now is all we got.
Cliche, sure, but in this case it worked out okay.