It was another Saturday morning where I didn’t hop out of bed to run. I just wanted to lie in bed and enjoy the quiet morning. Everyone was asleep, I was nearly asleep too. I looked out the bedroom window and was surprised to see blue skies. There were rain clouds in the sky too, but I just didn’t look in that direction. How can one be unhappy on a sun filled day?
But the sun didn’t last. Within an hour of my setting my feet to the floor, there were sprinkles of raindrops falling. I should have run earlier, but I didn’t. I just didn’t feel like it.
After a baseball game where my 7 year old got to pitch to the last batter before the 5 run rule ended the game, I made my way to running errands. It would be a bit before I’d be able to get away for a run.
By 4:30 p.m. I was heading out for a 12 mile run. Running down the running/bike path with the river flowing along side of me. The water was moving fast, and caught my attention. It was as if the water was challanging me to a race. I ran swiftly but kept in mind that I had a long road ahead of me, not to mention the return trip.
It was cool and cloudy, but the sun was actually out. I noticed that I was happy today to run alone. This was different from last week when the long run felt lonely and isolated. I listened to my music ~ its beat kept my turnover quick. And as I ran I fell into relaxation. I let my body release the pent up energy from a hard work week, and imagined the sun refueling my body.
The run wasn’t all easy; my right foot hurt at the ball of my foot. I took my shoe off and rubbed my foot at mile 10. Resuming my run, I became aware of my legs aching. I was tiring and my pace was slowing. But in wasn’t long before I happily stopped running after a 12.3 mile run.