When I started this site my intent was to give myself a forum to track the randomness that goes through my head while running and share the awesomeness of running. I don’t always have time to update and comment like I want to. I now post when I am inspired by something. But that keeps it fresh for me, though it might harm my readership (thanks to everyone that checks in periodically by the way). That inspiration came at 5:30 this morning.
I am just getting back into long runs after dealing with some injuries over the last year and a half. Today I was meeting an old friend of mine (Marc Biggerstaff) for a run at MoPac East as he gets ready for the Market to Market Relay next weekend. I wanted to get a few in before him so I got to the trailhead on 84th st a bit early and struck out. Now this trailhead is as at the edge of the city and you get away from the lights really quickly. It was dark, very dark. All I could see was the worn path in the limestone trail. I spent some time tip toeing gingerly watching my step and wasting energy. After a few minutes I relaxed and just ran, letting my feet fall naturally and reacting to the footing on instinct.
About a mile outside of Lincoln I paused to turn around to meet Marc at the parking lot. But then I looked up. Sometimes runners find themselves in the situation of being in a flow state. You tune out and just go. You hope this happens during a race, but on occasion it happens on a training run. This however, was NOT one of those situations. I paused in the 40 degree air, breath freezing, steam coming off my arms. Overhead there was a huge, thin, crescent moon and more stars than one usually gets to see that close to the city. This WAS one of those situations that you encounter in running, and life, where you think to youself,
“I better damn well try to remember this”
Beyond the clock, that is one of the greatest joys of running.
Run on my friends.