"Hard makes your better, Easy makes you nothing"

I woke up this morning, ready to rock out and run on the roads because Ale had to leave super early but decided to spend some time with my family and go later to the gym. It's good, I often sacrifice family time for running time. I am not saying that's a good thing, I'm just saying that's what happens.
So, I picked up my Dad from where he was, brought him home and headed to the gym. I was so happy to see that the "pee pool" was free and there were no classes. I didn't have much time so I got right in and started my warm up. All was well, until 17 minutes into the warm up when the therapy swimmers showed up. Now what? That's right, I had to leave my wonderful 86 degree pool and go to the big cold pool, GASP! I didn't have a friend there this time to give me the evil eye to get me in. I said to myself "Annie, let's just see how strong you are" and in I went. It was cold but but wasn't as bad as I thought. I did a 50 minute work out, tried to really work on moving my arms, facing forward, relaxing my shoulders. If I couldn't go for time, I at least wanted to practice the things I know I need to work on.
Every time I returned to the the other end of the the pool I would read the quote they had on a poster board, "Hard makes you better, easier makes you nothing, how easy do you really want it to be?" There was also another quote from Martin Luter King Jr. about it's not where we stand in the comfortable times but in the tough ones...totally paraphrased but that was the idea. It was great and inspirational, made me want dig that much deeper. Words I will remember, hopefully around mile 23. These training sessions, in the cold water, in the snow storms all make me better. Another thing they had up there (they are for the swim team), you have to be convinced that there is no one faster than you especially in the last 50 and the only way you can be certain of that is if you work hard, practice hard, and push hard. Which is so true, every step, minute, mile counts. So even though I was whining and cussing to myself about being ousted from the warm pool, I learned some great lessons today.
Tomorrow, 10 and then bed. I do indeed love being able to come home, shower and go back to bed on Monday and Tuesday. I know, I know so lazy but sorry, I love it.
84 days.