Onward...

I have been getting my normal prescribed 9 miles a day. Even in this torturous heat. I love the freedom that movement gives you. I love knowing that my I can will my body into literally anything, any distance and it will comply. It is one aspect of my life totally under my control. And boy do I love control.

So this post is more for me than for you. I rarely tell people specifics of the distances I run. There is usually no point. For a non-runner, 3,7,10,24 miles all sound the same. Whenever they do somehow find out (from my little posse of cheerleaders), they usually get a baffled look on their face and say "what does it take?" or "I cant even imagine". What is the attitude that carries you through miles and miles and still find joy? I will let you in on a secret and helps me so so much.

I just love what I do. I love to run. For me, I have developed an ability to remember that and focus on that even through suffering, even as the miles drag on. I have learned that, in running, like in life, if you just keep moving, everything changes. There is no permanence in this life, and there is definitely no permanence in running or a single race. You never know that after mile 26 or 27 that suddenly you will start feeling great, you just never know when things will change - that is why, you can never quit. It is the reason why I go for a second run if my first one was bad. It is commitment and dedication. I dont berate myself. I simply smile and remember to keep going and truly feel blessed to even be out there. I hold on to the journey and the lessons it holds. Sure running well is nice, but I can only access that physical ability if my mind is right. When I relinquish my control, and the desire to control, I can be fully present in my run and thrive.

Running long distance offers to me a smiliar ebb and flow as life does. Good times come and good times go, bad things happen and we survive. As I continue to learn in my own life, when you have faced, survived and thrived after a bad experience, and no matter how many dark places you go to, you will always come to the other side. (boy that sentence has so many commas - I'm squirming, but I will keep it because thats how fast my mind is working right now). Running is the same for me, no matter how much it hurts or I suffer (and I do, especially in this heat), I will never give up on myself. This does not mean that I will run through injury. Knock on wood, I have never had to deal with anything debilitating.

My running is informed by the life I lead, the things I have survived, and my life is also informed by the lessons I learn on the road everyday. Neither life or running is that serious that we cannot face it with infinite joy or hope in our hearts. I find it hard not to celebrate that blessing with every step and every breath. So what does it take to complete a long distance run? Answer: Nothing more than it takes to live your life...putting your best foot forward and simply continuing to move forward. (other than the physical conditioning that takes years...Ha!)

I have been so bad about logging in my miles for the past week. Needless to say, I have run every single day and now cannot remember the specifics at all! Logged in 22kms yesterday in 45 degrees (!!!!!!!!) and this morning could only manage a half-hearted 55 minutes in 46 degrees (!!!!!). You cannot imagine how hot and dry it is here - and you also cannot imagine just how amazing it feels to sweat it all out. I am getting addicted to this heat and its quite surprising to me how much I enjoy running in this weather.

55 minutes this am. 30 minutes of an unknown distance again this pm.