Friday, May 22, 2009

This Time Last Year

On Thursday, I woke up before the alarm clock, about an hour before usual. I wanted to run! This time last year, that never would have happened. So I got up, made myself a PB&J, put on the workout clothes, and went for a trail run. It was one of those rare runs, where I felt great the whole time, and if it hadn't been a week day, I probably would have just kept on running.

Sure, it was foggy, but not misty. I passed the group camp site with a humongous tee pee set up. Saw lots of little rabbits scurrying here & there. Added an extra small loop through a neighborhood with swoon-worthy houses. Sure, some parts felt a little creaky, but I felt so strong. It was an amazing feeling! "This," I thought to myself, "is why you go to the gym. This is why you do strength training and spinning and stuff like Jillian Michaels-inspired self-torture." I finished my run in 45 minutes, delighted that the last time I had done the same run but without the extra loop, it took me the same amount of time. Improvement is a good feeling, especially when it feels so gradual in the usual day-to-day workouts.

Today, before lunch, I sat by the sparkling waterway that runs down the street from my work building, watching droplets leap back up the waterfall, like migrating salmon. I reflected on yesterday's run. "Wow. This time last year I had *no* idea that being fit would feel this good and strong. If this keeps up, well, look out, world!"

Hey! What do I mean, "if?" ;-)

6 comments:

debby said...

This was great to read, Pubsgal. Its so easy to get down and think, what's the use. But looking at the long haul is much better. I need to have a day like you described!

Mary :: A Merry Life said...

What a difference a year makes. This post was actually a really inspiring read for me, so thanks. :)

The Merry said...

That's the best part about keeping an exercise blog; you can look back and see how far you've come!

Sagan said...

Wow- it's amazing the progress that we can make! That STRONG feeling is fantastic.

Anonymous said...

I am so proud of you - great run!

I need to take my dog on a trail walk today - its good for both of us!

Have a great day!

Christie O. said...

yay! i love this!! don't you just love breakthroughs??? i feel like i have had one recently and it just feels amazing!! congrats to you, it's all that hard work you've been doing paying off now!! woot!