I have to be at my doctor’s office at 9:00 this morning - it’s a 30-minute drive. On a typical day, I’d be about halfway through my workout around the time I need to leave this morning, but today’s workout had to start much earlier.

When I left home at 5:30, it was twenty-four degrees outside. With today’s workout being a 5K, it only took a moment for the excuses to bubble up.

“It’s too damn cold to run this morning.”

“Wait until you get back from the doctor. It will be warmer.”

“You could always run this afternoon - it’s supposed to get up to 50 degrees later.”

“Hell, just skip it.”

That last one was really resonating with my lesser-self as I sat down on the couch to read by the glow of an electric fireplace with a hot cup of coffee in my hand.

After all, I’m in pretty decent shape. To be sure, better than most guys my age, and in terms of my body, missing one workout is no big deal.

As I put on another layer to keep warm for the run, there was that excuse again. “Skip it, man, it’s no big deal.”

Outside, I stepped over a patch of black ice and wondered how many there would be down by the park where it’s always wet.

“Skip it! SKIP IT!!!!"

For a moment, I thought about going back inside.

But, on days like today, it’s not about the fitness of the body. It’s not about the muscles that propel me or the lungs that supply the oxygen. It’s not about the time, the stride, the pace, or the heart rate.

It’s about the mind.

It’s about doing what I have to do, even when I don’t want to do it.

It’s about doing hard shit.

It’s about reminding myself that I can do hard shit.

It’s about showing my wife that she can do hard shit.

It’s about showing my kids they can do hard shit, too.

Yes, it involves my body.

But, today, it’s about my mind.