Day 83: Personal Reflection.

First, I wanted to take the opportunity to say Congratulations to my best friend, Adam, and to his new fiance, Allison, on their very recent engagement!! I am so happy for him, because I know how happy she makes him. Good stuff, brother, good stuff. Today was 8 straight good runs, surpassing the previous record of 7!! Today, I also logged 1,300 miles in 65 days of running. Today was the last of my 4 day set. I should have been much happier about the day. I know I said this morning that I wouldn't let the news that we most likely underestimated the distance of the trip by 240 miles affect me, but I just couldn't help it. All day, it was on my mind. I thought about it, and worried about it, both last night, and during the run today. I've looked at the map many times, and every time I look, it says the same thing. What it boils down to is, in order to get home on time, allowing for a few days of bad weather, I am gonna have to step things up a notch from here on out. We will confirm the distance tomorrow, but I am already mentally preparing for the extra workload. As it stands after today, I will have right at 1,000 miles left to make it home. What that means is, starting next set, I will be running 25 miles a day instead of 20. That will be 100 miles every 4 days. Nearly a marathon a day for 40 days of running. 10 sets of 4 days running then 1 day off, with 25 miles per day runs to get home. This is what I let consume my mind today. It took until the last 5 miles today, but I was finally at peace with the new info. I worried most of the day, and towards the end of the day, I turned the worry into motivation, and I actually got a little bit excited at the prospect of trying to push my body and mind even further than I have been. I believe in my heart that I can do it. I heard the perfect song this afternoon that refocused my mind. It is a song that has been one of the perfect theme songs for my life this last 6 years, for the time leading up to the journey, and for the journey itself. It requires me to look at myself in the mirror, face the demons of my past, and allow myself to change for the better. The song is by one of my all-time favorite groups, Curnutte & Maher, and it is called "Who Said Man Couldn't Fly". Gonna post it now, and I hope you all undertand the lyrics. Imagine, if you will, me, standing in front of the mirror, saying this to myself.

I thought about gettin' into my car,

and pullin' my ladder in.

Turnin' down my rear view mirror,

to shut out the places I've been.

The foe I fight is wearin' my clothes,

and standing in my shoes.

Everyone is waiting for him to grow up,

and telling him what he should do.

Don't let me down.

I know you know what you do.

Don't let me down.

I've invested my love in you.

Don't let me down,

Don't let me down,

Don't let me.

I've no cause for sympathy,

what I got, I brought on myself.

All these things hangin' over me,

have shadowed the freedom I felt.

But, there's still room for apologies,

underneath this ceiling of trouble I built.

Welcome to responsibility,

and working toward what you will.

Don't let me down.

I know you know what you do.

Don't let me down.

I've invested my love in you.

Don't let me down,

Don't let me down,

Don't let me.

I'd like to say there's no cause for alarm,

but you're right, it's time for a change.

I thank you for the slap in the face,

the honesty is well worth the pain.

I hate to offer promises,

but you know, I'll certainly try.

We're well aware of the things that we want,

and who said, that man couldn't fly.

Don't let me down.

I know you know what you do.

Don't let me down.

I've invested my love in you.

Don't let me down,

Don't let me down,

Don't let me down,

Don't let me.