I have been feeling stressed out and completely overwhelmed. I feel like I am never home and never see my husband; two things I crave and require to refresh my spirit. While the weather is still screaming summer, we all know it’s fall, and my spirits are, predictably, falling as they do thanks to my seasonal depression. Between the activity that consumes 43 hours of my week, helping a friend start a new company (which really doesn’t consume much time at all, but feels like it does since I have too many things on my plate right now), household responsibilities, blogging, mentoring my team, and marathon training, well, I’m just overwhelmed. With that in mind, I’d like to discuss something with you.

Kids, I have decided to re-commit to the Disney half marathon instead of doing the full marathon in January for Team in Training. A difference of 13.1 miles one weekend in January is really insignificant, in my opinion, but it’s a huge difference in training time for the next three months. With all the things I’m juggling, cutting back on the number of miles I have to pound out each week is a huge relief to me. Financially, there is no difference; I will have to raise the same amount of money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. But emotionally for me, the difference is significant. I already know I can complete a marathon. But the stress I’m feeling over my training for the full marathon is driving me insane, and we all know I already dangle precariously over the edge of sanity! The best wrinkle cream in the world won’t help the lines I’m adding to my face worrying about how much I have on my plate right now.

And I know it’s all about perspective and balance and yadda yadda yadda, but for me, at this point in my life, I cannot handle all of this. And the easiest way to alleviate some of my stress is to cut back… on miles.

Please don’t think less of me for backing out on the marathon. I have debated and debated about this. And I know I can put in the miles and do the 26.2 in January, but I might be an emotional wreck by then. So, 13.1 is what I’m going to do. For my sanity. It still has me out there pounding the pavement, so I still get the emotional release running provides, just without the feeling of dread that I still have so far to go before crossing the finish line.

LLS still benefits and we still get to help fund the fight against blood cancers. And maybe I can see my husband ocassionally, too.

By the way, none of this will matter anyway if you don’t donate. I have to have 50% of my funds raised by October 15th, and am only at 20% right now (not including funds from the pasta fundraiser that have not yet been added to my account). If you don’t donate, I don’t get to continue training. Please donate. Help fund the fight.

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