Better...for the moment at least

10:15pm and I just got home from teaching. Mind you, I left here at 8:20am this morning for my "real" job. Thankfully, class went well tonight. The students appreciated the extensive feedback (and amount of time involved) that I gave them on their assignments, and I think that their anxiety has been reduced somewhat about the next assignment. I got several frantic emails from four (of 13) students on Monday, but I think everything is better now. Thanks goodness because their anxiety was stressing me out! I jokingly told K that I needed to start tonight's class with a relaxation exercise to get them to calm down. Grad students.... :)

I had lunch today with a colleague who I've mentioned before is interested in selling me his practice as he plans to retire early next year. We've had a few conversations about it before over the past few months, and I have expressed my concerns - mainly the stability and security issue. But, obviously, going into a well-established practice lessens that tremendously compared to getting one off the ground yourself. I'm certainly honored that he thinks of me so highly to entrust me with his "legacy" to some extent. I told him that I would keep an open mind, and K and I will likely have dinner with him and his wife sometime soon to talk more about the details.

I missed our final group workout last night because I wasn't feeling good and I needed to prepare for tonight's class. But, I did meet up with everyone afterwards for Joe's pre-race talk. As he talked, it started to hit me that this is happening THIS weekend. I am going to run 31 miles on Saturday. I'm excited to push my limits in that way, but I also felt slightly nervous as Joe talked last night. The more that I think about it though I think it is more about eager anticipation than true anxiety. Now that class is behind me for the week I can finally focus on the race! We are flying into Amarillo on Friday then going to the pasta dinner and pre-race meeting that evening before the race on Saturday. Joe clearly told us to prepare for anything in terms of the weather up there because it is so unpredictable - last year was in the upper 90's, but there have also been times when the runners have been in their ski jackets because it was so damn cold. From what the forecasts are saying (for whatever they are worth, not much according to Joe), the weather should be pretty good for us this weekend. So, I'm sure I'll be stressing out about what to pack tomorrow night while also trying to fit it all in one carry-on bag since we are flying on American.