Thursday, November 26, 2009

Did it!!

While training for my last marathon, I noticed that running wasn't really that much fun anymore. Today, I started on a four mile run. I haven't been training and knew that four would be a difficult run. About two miles in, I was running well and getting very tired. My husband drove past with the kids on their way home from the park. Since my training schedule called for a two mile run, I asked him take me home. I wanted to be done. I'd done what I was supposed to do. Then, I decided not to get in the car. I decided to do something hard, something that I didn't want to do. I'm glad that I did. It was actually fun.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Back in the Saddle, Again. . .

My husband tells me that I am a runner. I tend to argue with him on that point. My running life has been rather on-again, off-again for the last four years, although it wasn't much more committed before that. It seems to me that real runners run, not just read about it or encourage others to do it. This winter, I have set a goal for myself. I am planning to run our local running club's Winter Series, not just the Winter Series, but the Long Series. This morning was my first run after two weeks off to nurse my husband and move. When I left the house, it was clear and cold. I pushed up the hill to get into position to watch the sun come up and ran toward it's blinding rays a few minutes before it tucked in behind the low-hanging clouds that filled the sky. When I first sighted Pike's Peak, it's top was just under the clouds, but as I turned for home, most of the mountain was curtained from view. I soon felt the first wetness on my face, but didn't feel the full force of the wind-driven snow till I started down the hill. I then began to be thankful that I had turned for home when I had. By the time that I walked up the driveway, the snow was being driven sideways past the trees. I was glad to return to the warm house. I've run in snow before, but I have never had the joy of running while watching a storm come in before. It is one experience that I would love to have many more times. Seeing the beauty and power of God's creation on display was a wonderful way to start the day.