Obstacles

I ran an easy 8 miles this morning. 3.5 years and 85 pounds ago, I could never have imagined I would run 8 miles and consider it easy, but that is exactly how life is right now. I ran a 10:20 mile pace.
While running I considered life's various obstacles. Life is not as easy as my run would have me believe.
Obstacles to me are the essence of life. I know no other way to approach a run than to anticipate its possible obstacles, to strategize their defeat, and to in fact defeat them. My right foot is an example. I have been plagued with a tendon issue. I purchased expensive arch supports. I rotate shoes. I use expensive socks. I put a local anesthetic on the area. I changed the way I tie my shoe.
As in life, defeating running's obstacles requires first a desire to defeat, then anticipation, planning, and execution.
There are some obstacles in life which cannot be anticipated. The same is true for running. The pre-run rituals (and I have many) will not resolve these contingencies.
The best bet, as in life, is to enjoy the runs which present only minor obstacles.
Run hard.
Run, and do not stop.
Then, look back on the run and say to yourself, I could not have run better than I ran today.