The thing about a half marathon when you’re training for a marathon is that it becomes just another training run. And kind of a skimpy one at that, when you consider the 16, 18, 20 milers coming up in the next few weeks.

Still, up until this year, 13.1 was my ultimate goal, and the race I ran each January was a sign of success, in terms of intent and endurance.

So yesterday, as I was finishing the Decker Challenge (a halfer that just so handily fit into my training schedule), I consciously recalibrated my perspective for a minute or two and ramped it up to celebration mode.

Yes, I got to tick off another required workout.
Yes, this means I’ve finished 7 of 18 weeks of training.
Yes, I need new shoes and I need more hill training and I need to keep this up over the holidays.

Yes yes yes.
And … I ran a half marathon.

And this is where Marathon Monday and Process and Product meet.

Celebrating milestones and small successes is one of the best ways to sustain the energy of process.
The occasional splash of champagne in the midst of a long slog is a good idea

I celebrate when I finish a manuscript.
I celebrate when I send it to my agent.
I celebrate when she sends it out.

I often tell my students that even rejection letters are worthy of celebration, in that they indicate the manuscript is yours again — to burn, revise or send back out into the world, sealed with a kiss.

I celebrate it all, and I celebrate half marathons.

I think that you should, too.
Jump for joy…

Mileage for the week: 25 miles

Longest run: 13.1

Grand total since I started training: 145

Quote for the week:
When you jump for joy, beware that no one moves the ground from beneath your feet. — Stanislaw J. Lec