Annotation.

I get an inordinate amount of pleasure from crossing off my daily training miles. I have my plan printed out and as I complete each run, I write down what I actually ran. At the end of the week (for me the end is Sunday) I add up the miles. It is absurdly satisfying. Why? I think because it's a tangible measure of how hard I worked during the week. The miles have been calculated and because they're written down, they really exist not just in memory. I don't know if that makes sense but writing them down makes each day's accomplishment that much more real. It's a ritual that started four years ago and has lasted through all four training rounds.

Be easy.

I am running because I want to. I need to just relax and be easy. I kept that idea in mind this morning as I put in a comfortable 8 miles. Comfortable is the right word. I relaxed and ran. When I needed to, I walked for a few feet and then dropped right back into my rhythm. I finished and felt like I could have kept going for miles and miles and miles. My good run translated into feeling contented all day. Not bad payoff for my morning exertion.

A Matter of Trust.

I'm still running. Some days my miles are easier than others. Some days I just want to quit. I had a day like that two weeks ago. I just felt like I couldn't move. I was struggling to breathe, struggling to move faster, and walking more than running. I was on the trail and I just stopped. Hot, sweaty, and upset, I felt like crying. I often talk to myself when I run. This day I posed a question to the universe. I asked, "What do I need to do?" Implied in the question was "What do I need to do to feel better, to get faster, to feel joyful?" I swear the universe answered. Somehow I heard, "You just need to run." Huh. So I did. I sucked it up, reset my watch and began again. I ran the rest of my route without stopping. Since that day, I've ditched the watch and stopped focusing on my pace. I've been trying to just run. I figure the universe must know what she's talking about.