38F; partly cloudy w/ moonlight, wet streets but no precip. and little to no wind. Hill repeats (VO2 & leg strength workout): 2.8 mi w.u., 6 x 1 min. on ~10% hill w/ 2 min recov. between reps. All reps .11 miles except last rep .12: 9:16, 9:03, 9:15, 9:05, 8:41, 8:22. A very satisfying workout. The first rep felt horrible, as always. Penultimate and final reps were faster "on purpose," and I'm so pleased I could do it. My legs were shaky and "dead" for about 15 minutes after the hill reps, but then I finished the run feeling great. And now, for Sno's Online Therapy Session... My daughter (aka SnoFlake on the blog) was scheduled to be in a horse show this Saturday, and we've been preparing for it and looking forward to it for months. Last night we got word that the show is being postponed due to rain. The new date is May 1, the day of my running club's inaugural Cinco De Mayo Mini-Marathon (half-mar). We are both very upset. SnoFlake really wants me to go to her show, but she also would hate for me to miss my race, bless her heart. After sleeping on it, and letting it all rattle around in my brain while running this morning, here are my thoughts. I'm inclined to try to find a way to hush my inner two-year-old. (ie "I want what I want!") I'll have many races in my future, but I have only one "daughter's first horse show." We don't even have a horse (her teacher lends her one of his), and I have no idea what role her hobby will play later in her life. But she has worked so hard and improved so much. And she wants me there. I do not take for granted that my presence is important to my teenager; to me it is an honor. And at how many marathon finish lines have she and Mr. Sno shivered, waiting, waiting, for me to come in? There is actually some chance the horse show could be delayed a second time for rain. It's the Pacific Northwest after all! I was planning only a mini-taper, so I do not have to officially bail until I'm right up against the date. And perhaps missing the half-m will be a blessing, in that I will not lose a week of taper and a week of recovery; that's two extra weeks of hard training that will go into my June marathon. "When in doubt, go to the rocker." If I close my eyes I can put myself in the big Rocking Chair of the Future: I am 80 or 90 years old and I look back upon difficult moments of my life, and ask, "Did I do the right thing?" When SnoFlake went to bed last night, she declared she would not go to the show if I had to miss my race or if I would not be there for the show. That just won't do. This is really, really important to her. I think I need to dry these tears and never let my girl see how badly I want to be selfish and have my own way. I think the Rocker says, "horse show." What do you think? | 