At track on Wednesday we ran a moderately tough workout: 10x300. Not a lot of distance but a speed workout with enough intensity to put you in a bit of oxygen debt. We ran 300m, jogged for 100m and then went on the three minute mark. So depending on how fast your ran the 300m you'd have about 90seconds to 2 minutes of rest. A nice long bit of rest, enough to go at the next 300 at top speed. I went into the workout having run a couple tough runs, Monday was a hill run and Tuesday I pushed the double for 6 miles. My legs were not fresh, my quads were a little sore. I started the workout fast and ran the first 300 in 1 min flat. I thought, "Great. I've gone out too fast and I'm gonna positive split all of these." But I ran the second, comfortably hard in 1:02. I had to stick with it. When I hit the fifth repeat and was coming around the curve halfway through the 300 I thought: "It's OK if this one is slower. I did a five hour hike on Saturday and had two tough runs this week. It's understandable." And just as that thought finished this thought popped into my head: "You can choose to think of your excuses or you can choose to think of your reasons. What are you reasons Sarah?"

Right now my reason is the CHaD half-marathon and preparing to run my best on that day. My reason is running for my son and for all the families that need the care and services of the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth. Sometimes doubt and excuses creep in. In those moments it's good to know your reasons, to remember them and use them to push your forward.