If I were ranking exhaustion, it would go something like this:
Red:
College when I was taking 19 credit hours and working full-time, therefore getting about 5 hours a sleep a night and eating 2,000 extra calories a day as a result.
Orange:
Finishing my last marathon, which was more mentally exhausting than I can explain. In my experience, marathons are about 10,000 times more difficult than a triathlon.
Yellow:
Anytime I travel to Africa or Asia and it takes two or three days to get on the right time and be productive.
Blue:
Most Fridays at 4 pm or so after a week of work and workouts.
Today I’m currently between orange and red. I’m beyond tired. The Urban Dare caught up to me when Adam and I tried to then run the New Times 10K the next day. Dumb move. We’d bowled the night before (yep, it was an overly-scheduled weekend) and wow am I paying for it today.
I seem to have been born without the ability to recognize my limitations. On a weekend when I had back-to-back races, one would think I wouldn’t start re-painting my condo. Or ordering new appliances and picking up new furniture. Alas, my common sense was misplaced and yesterday after a failed race and legs that were on fire, I sat in the middle of my bedroom throwing a tantrum at my truly horrific painting abilities. Not surprisingly, this morning it all seemed a bit more conquerable. Amazing what a bit of rest can do.
New appliances being delivered this week. New bed being put together tonight. New paint thanks to truly gracious friends who are always supporting me and can be lured into such work with promises of pizza, beer and baked goods. No new races on the horizon.
My week is already off to a good start! Three cheers to us all having a fabulous week,
~K