The subhead of tonight’s post could be: All I really need to know about running and life I learned in preschool (and kindergarten).

I first heard that quotation (the headline for today’s post) at Tarzan’s preschool when one of the teachers repeated it to the children.

I’ve used those words since with my own children.

Today I repeated them to myself.

I planned on doing an early 20-miler this week (today, not the weekend) as the Dude and are taking the kiddos skiing on my normal long-run day.

I was so proud of myself for planning so well. I put Tarzan in extended care at the preschool to give myself extra time.

Jane even asked me earlier in the week to come to her school and have lunch with her. She considers this a treat and special time with mommy.

No problem, I answered before my overscheduled, flooded brain could think twice.

This morning Jane reminded me about lunch. I checked her school schedule for the time I needed to meet her. That’s when I realized I’d blew it. 

Because of the timeframe of when her class eats lunch, right smack in the middle of the day, there was no way I could get the full 20 miles in, which usually takes me about 3 hours, more of less, to do. 

By the time I dropped Tarzan off at his school and got started, I would come up short at least a half hour if I tried to do it before lunch.
 
If I waited and started to run after our lunch date, I’d come up short an entire hour as I needed to pick up Tarzan by 3:15 p.m.

In short, my 20 consecutive miles to myself were doomed. 

I tried to negotiate with Jane for another lunch date instead of today. When I saw the tears in her eyes I knew I couldn’t go back on my word.

I bit the bullet. I ran 11.5 miles in the morning outside in the cold and then I went to Jane’s school to meet her for lunch. She had a ham sandwich and chocolate milk. I had a PowerBar, water and Gatorade.

After our lunch date, I went to the gym and finished the last 8.5 miles on the track. That gave me barely enough time to shower, get something to eat and pick up Tarzan.

The second run was exhausting, mentally and physically. I kept telling myself that it was better than cutting it short or skipping it altogether, that I would be glad I did it later.

I am, and I’m also crazy tired now.

The looooong miles took a backseat to what was most important: keeping my word to my daughter.

That’s fine by me.

“You get what you get, and you don’t pitch a fit.”

Indeed. 

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Aging is inevitable, but growing old is a choice. Lace up your shoes, and let’s go!

Mileage today: 20; Denver to Boston miles logged: 1340; Miles left to go: 430.