A rollercoaster is the easy comparison but not an exaggeration -yesterday was filled with more highs and lows than I thought I could stomach. One of those highs was beginning the day with a truly amazing opportunity at work – one of which I can’t share just yet, but am so excited to be a part of. However, this also came with a call to be in New York on April 18th for an important event. Quickly after that date was sputtered my fist pumps were no more.
April 18th?! No, no, this must be a joke. Can you repeat that please? APRIL 18th?! I like to pride myself on being a team player at work and moving my personal life around to ensure that we produce world class work, but I couldn’t do it this time. For reasons we are all aware of, the Boston marathon can be one of the highlights of a runner’s career and it was what I worked so hard for my entire life. So, with the heavy weight of hesitation on my back, I said no.
The team that I work with is great and they understood, but it still left them in a bit of a predicament and I loathed the feeling of starting on a new project and already being a pain. On one hand, I felt bad, but on the other, I felt empowered because I chose to put myself first.
Whether it’s at work, friendships or in a relationship, being a team player is of utmost importance. But I also believe that there are times when being selfish is the only way to ensure sanity. This is what I’ve worked so hard for, this is what I’ve looked forward to for longer than I can remember, this is my me time.
So tell me, how do you ensure that you are a team player yet still make “me” time?
On a lighter note, if you haven’t already registered for the San Francisco Marathon, what the heck are you waiting for? You get to come visit Aron and I, and run the Golden Gate Bridge! To top it all of, I have a discount code for $10 off that expires TODAY. So quick…go resister! Then come back and tell me that you did.
Code: MARCHMADDISC
Expires: 3/31/2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST
Good for: $10 off the full or either half marathon
You know I hate blogs without photos – so I found this one of Aron and I. Don’t hate me for posting it, A!
Happy Running!
The San Fran Marathon is on my Marathon todo list! Thats and the one in Pittsburg!!! Good for you for being making sure you took care of YOU! Sometimes I struggle with that also!
You should be so PROUD of yourself for making the right decision!! Obviously it’s important to be a team player, but being true to yourself is MUCH more important sometimes!! And you’ve worked SO hard for this- you deserve your moment!! 😀
Yikes!! $ 150 for the marathon?? $100 for the half??
It just fell off my list
congrats for choosing yourself! Sometimes its really hard, but i always look at it this way, all of my coworkers have families and kids that they rearrange their schedule for. So running is your “kid” figuratively of course. you can always find a way to make it work.
i’m pretty lucky because my work hours are flexible, so when i asked my boss if i could come in later on wednesdays in order to do long runs in the morning on those days he was like yea do whatever you need to, which is awesome!
I definitely want to run the San Francisco marathon, but this year is not the year. Maybe in 2012? 🙂
I think you made the right decision about April 18 and I’m sure your team understands! Your trip to Boston has been planned for a long time. I think it’s a whole different story when you make a commitment and back out, but that’s clearly not the case here.
I am already registered. SEE YOU THEN!
you did the right thing!!! holy s you would have regretted it forever if you had gone with the work thing.
100% what I would have done too – no doubt! I would quit my job if they wouldn’t let me go run Boston 😉 maybe I am too good at putting me first lol.
Yay! I don’t think I have seen that pic – such a fun day!
I’m SO glad you choose your life-long dream! Yeah, it sucks temporarily, but just keep imagining the feeling of running Boston!! I sometimes struggle with making other people happy before myself, but what you said about ensuring sanity is spot on. Working out, racing – these are all things I prize and make sure that I get to accomplish them.
I’m so excited for you to run Boston! I’ll need to live vicariously through you! 🙂
Wow, they asked you to go on a trip on April 18th? haha The timing could not have been worse! Props to you for saying no, that is the right call. Doing both of those events would be too much strain on you. Didn’t you already go on 2 work trips to Miami and New York? I bet the next time they ask you, you will be available to go.
I think as long as you give 100% at work, people know that you care. I wouldn’t worry about not being able to make the trip.
And this bay area weather is crazy, now it is insanely nice out! Mother nature how about some moderati0n! haha
Good for you! No way could you give up Boston
cute pic! 🙂
ah, my philosophy is the more random the picture, the better 🙂 I hope no one hates me for posting random pics.
What a rough decision, that must have been very hard and sad for you. I’m sorry you had to battle with that. I think all of us runners would have made the same choice. Don’t tell my employers this but….running is like… WAY more important to me than work. Work is just work for me. I don’t LOVE it like I think you might.
I’m gonna sit on the $10 discount for another hour or two and think on it. I didn’t really like running the US Half in SF, so I’m kind of hesitant…
Girl, we literally commented on each others blogs at the exact same time. haha.
sounds like you absolutely made the right decision. i’m sure your team understands and clearly you are a valuable employee so i bet there will be other amazing opportunities in your future. but for now, on to BOSTON with no regrets!!
OH that is so tough!! I hate when stuff like that happens. I was actually supposed to take today off to do some family stuff but I had to come into work..not fun. I just hate when I double book myself which I seem to be doing a lot lately. Its tough to do everything that I want to!
You absolutely made the right decision. There wasn’t even a decision to make. You know the famous quote, “Work to live. Don’t live to work.”
Okay, now I don’t feel bad for all the things falling apart in my world in relation to Boston. I do remember when I first started my current job being told that I needed to attend a big meeting in Laguna Beach on the weekend of a marathon I was registered and trained up to run. It wasn’t Boston and still I wondered if I’d made a bad choice in choosing to work there. All along, I’d been telling them that I would be happy to not take time off between jobs IF I could extend that weekend by 1 day. I didn’t mean work. *sigh* It all worked out.