I generally dislike getting up before the sun, so I have a great deal of respect for folks that manage to get up extra early to run during the week. For the past few months, I’ve had the best intentions to begin rising early to get some running under my belt to start the day, but the alarm just doesn’t seem to be all that effective when in competition with warm flannel sheets and other far more enticing aspects. Saturday morning, however, is the exception. This is my day for a longer run, so getting up well before the sunrise has become commonplace at this point, and I welcome it with open arms. It may mean that our Friday nights aren’t exactly action packed, but I look forward to these long runs all week. This is my chance to truly test my endurance, and explore new areas for longer periods of time, without the usual constraints of work, daylight, or other weekly concerns. Saturday mornings, I suppose, are my time to reflect on the week, and look ahead to the upcoming week, all while moving along at a comfortable clip. It becomes a partially solitary church service that would make St. Thomas proud.
Chasing42 Log: 20160130
Run: My legs felt a bit sluggish when I woke up around 4:30AM, but my eagerness to get out the door and enjoy the time to myself overruled any complaining my legs were doing. I enjoyed a wonderful pre-dawn run by myself, and then met up with some friends. We headed out on a route I had never been on before, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see some new areas and scout out some fantastic hills along the way. After we finished up our run together, I took the long way home by myself again. I probably under-hydrated and should have consumed a few more calories, but I was feeling pretty darn good when I got back. The sun was shining, the air was warming up, and the weekend was upon us!
Thought: I’m going to take yesterday as the universe’s way of reimbursing me for the previous day’s failings. I reckon it’s rather important to remember that our lives are filled with a myriad of moments. Some of them are “good”, some are “bad”, but these terms are ultimately open to interpretation. Nothing we do, say, or feel is inherently positive or negative. We simply make choices about the value we place on each experience. If we can take the time to figure out what there is to be learned and gained from every experience, then we’ll ultimately be much better off. Sometimes it’s easier than others, but it’s all part of #chasing42!