Run or Clean?

Last year, Kristine and I ran the 10K division the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run, and we'd planned to run it again this year. Ever since the last race, I've been determined that this year I would break 50 minutes--I took just over 52 the last time around. We've been hitting our 10K training course, pondering new shoe purchases...yet we hadn't actually registered for the race yet. No rush I figured, since the race date was June 1st. But last week, I found that the annual spring cleanup of the Pere Marquette river sponsored by BBT would take place on May 31st.

I haven't done this cleanup in a few years and have been meaning to again. But something always gets in the way and my initial reaction last week was that this year, the DxA2 run would again. But was running it again that important?

No. But that didn't automatically determine we'd attend the cleanup. There are other concerns in play.

Our budget is tight this summer and gasoline is expensive. Staying home and running the race would certainly be more economical. And it would save money I could spend on a real fishing trip some other time (when we go to the cleanup, I'll be lucky if I get to fish one evening).

On the other hand, Kristine enjoys these cleanups. They give us a chance to spend some time together in the outdoors...time we wouldn't have if I took one of my solo fishing trips. And she isn't anxious to run the race again.

So deciding meant weighing fiscal guilt against marital guilt. And...we'll be going to the cleanup.