Eternal truths

So I was lukewarm about running today.  I had a lazy morning, and as it got later and later I kept reducing the miles I was going to make myself run.  I got to the point where I was only going to run 4 miles instead of the 6-8 I had planned.  Then my husband suggested that we run together.  While I love my husband, my initial reaction was not joy.  He is faster than me, so I knew that even if he promised an easy day, I would end up running harder than I would on my own.  He also wanted to run 5 miles, so I would have to talk myself back into going farther than I wanted.  But I agreed to go, because the company is always nice, and the day was beautiful, and really, why not. 

As we ran, I discovered I was half right in my predictions.  I did run faster than I planned, but it wasn't as hard as I expected, either. And while we did go farther than I planned, as we finished I thought I probably could have gone another mile or two, even with the faster tempo.  I was pleased with how the run had gone, and glad I had been talked into it. 

I think I must have been unusually philosophical as well, because I was reminded of several simple, eternal truths over the course of the run:

1.  You usually can give more than you think you can. 

2.  What is easy for someone else might be hard for you, but you will be better for trying to reach beyond your best.

3.  There comes a point when you just have to decide to do what is hard. Even if you don't want to.