Sometimes the long run makes it all better...

Last week I felt I had the worst training week ever ( little did I know the stomach flu was around the corner and worse was yet to come...). Monday's swim was slow, I was mentally and physically exhausted at Tuesday night's ride after an interval run earlier in the day. I actually quit working on the last interval...I don't think I have ever done that!! Wednesday's swim was slow and I felt so tired on Thursday that I totally skipped my workout and went to bed. Friday was a new day. I went to the pool and silently thanked my coach that it was a swim workout that wasn't on the clock. The swim was fine, nothing spectacular. After my swim I went out for a 90 min long run. It was my first long run outside in a while. I had some issues with my feet so I had slogged out my last few long runs on the treadmill. The run was amazing. It felt easy from start to finish and the route itself was healing. I ran my regular route, which involves heading north on my gravel road. Along my path I was witness to all the awesome signs of spring. Ducks, geese and red winged blackbirds were all around. New calves in the pastures, and even a herd of deer watched me warily as I strode by. I was listening to my ipod on shuffle (ALL my songs) and felt almost giddy at hearing a couple of really old faves ( I HAD to repeat Calling Baton Rouge by Garth...). I ran farther than I had since the half marathon training in the fall and it felt good to know this was the farthest I had ran this year. I finished this run feeling rejuvenated and revived. This one long run seemed to wipe clean the slate and remind me why I train. And the week, although almost over, would continue to get better.
On the weekend I was off to Sylvan Lake for a coaching course where my own coach reminded me that it was okay to be tired and take a day off (guilt gone!!) and we had a couple great workouts while we were there, including a great indoor ride with the group and outdoor run down by the lake with Angie and Sarah.
I went to bed Sunday night vowing to take better care of myself so a week (well, half of a week) like this wouldn't happen again.
And in the end, it all was made to seem really small when an email came to me from my coach reporting on our injured teammate who was hospitalized after a horrible bike crash. He is happy to spin free on a recumbent bike and kick on his back in the pool... It makes me a whole lot more grateful for those "crappy workouts"...