She Who Runs in the Rain
"Never allow anyone to rain on your parade and thus cast a pall of gloom and defeat on the entire day. Remember that no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business. Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it. Your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days combating the menial forces of hate, jealously, and envy. Guard your fragile life carefully. Only God can shape a flower, but any foolish child can pull it to pieces.” - Og Mandino
She awakes to the sound of raindrops falling in the dark.
She does not question - even for a moment - whether the rain will change her plans.
She no longer has excuses. Speed work in the dark and the rain it will be.
She goes around and around, acknowledging the quiet, but powerful solidarity felt among the others- nearly all women - who did not question either.
She realizes that what makes this o.k. is knowing that she has a home to which she will return. Others do not.
She spits and groans and sweats and labors and DOES NOT CARE - for once in her life - what others think as she wipes the rain drops off of her watch face and starts another interval.
She is different.
She is stronger and more powerful than ever before.
She can do this - even if the rain comes on that morning too.
When a colleague inquires about her training and says "What do you do on mornings like this?", she confidently replies "I run."
