By now, you might know that I’m no stranger to lacking motivation after a race. The two half marathons I’ve run since October have been really fun, and I still find that going through the process of training and racing is rewarding, but sometimes it’s difficult to pick up again once you’ve achieved a goal.

Since I began half marathon training in September (that’s right, I’ve been training for a half marathon or another for nearly six months straight), I’ve found myself saying no to lots of activities outside my routine. Unsurprisingly, this pattern leads to a Katherine who is a bit exhausted of doing the same thing again and again and feeling a bit isolated from the rest of the world. So for the past few weeks, besides battling headache and back issues and then a chest cold following the Louisiana Marathon half, I’ve been saying yes to all things social and have been letting the workouts slide. Last weekend my scheduled 8-miler never happened, and I’m surprisingly okay with that. It would’ve been worse for me to push through something that I was not in the right place to tackle mentally.

Well, the good news here is that I’ve broken a streak of 10 days sans workout with a triumphant return to spinning class. (I know, last week’s spin class didn’t happen for me, either.) I feel great. Rejuvenated. Perhaps sometimes all it takes is a solid endorphin rush to remind you of why you so love being active. I’m motivated to continue my training plan this week and through the weekend, perhaps even with a swim thrown in. But of course, the rest of my week is also full of social obligations and things I’m excited to do outside of my normal routine.

The key word here is balance.

My fridge currently bears a fortune from my favorite Vietnamese restaurant, which I originally saw as a sign to continue with spinning and run group and other athletic endeavors that make me a healthier and happier person. I realized today that this fortune could—and should—also apply to the other side of my life, the part spent with both new and old friends, the part that leaves me feeling well-rounded and fulfilled in ways that solitude and focusing solely on myself can’t.

The fortune? Engage in group activities to further transformation.