Something that’s ingrained into every student pilot when learning to land is that it’s better to go around and try again, rather than keep trying to salvage a bad approach. Very few aircraft accidents are caused by pushing the power up, retracting the flaps, and flying away to try again. On the other hand, multiple accidents happen every year when pilots try to save a bad approach.
Yesterday, my fall marathon plans crumbled again. After the Rock ‘n Roll Seattle marathon was cancelled, I set my sights on my hometown race. Then the Sioux Falls Marathon cut all of their events down to only the half marathon. Fortunately, the Fargo Marathon had delayed from May to August 30th, just a day before Sioux Falls. Perfect! I wouldn’t even have to change my training schedule, and I could still get in a marathon in 2020. Yesterday Fargo went virtual.
At this point, I have two choices. First, I could find some other marathon that’s fairly soon, doesn’t require too much travel (because we’re still basically broke), and adjust my training schedule once again. Of course, there’s no guarantee that another late summer/early fall marathon isn’t also going to get cancelled, leaving me to chase yet another fleeting goal. The second choice is to just scrap my whole plan, swap to my offseason training plan, and start looking at 2021 marathons far enough out to plan a good slate. As a bonus, I can get back a few extra hours for the next couple of months which can be used to focus on money making side hustles.
Essentially, I can keep trying to salvage a situation that’s continuing to decay, or I can go around and set up for a properly stabilized 2021. While I’m very disappointed to have to be doing it, I’m going to do what seems to be the right thing and take option #2.
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