What a run...

Well, this morning I had another great run.

4 MILES!

I ran 3 miles on Tuesday and took a break on Wednesday (my knee caps hips were sore) but then back at it this morning (joints felt fine before and after). Tomorrow (Friday) I'll run at least 3 miles, maybe 4 again. The run this morning was just so beautiful.

It was still dark when I headed out so most everything was dimly lit by the streetlights but then as I rounded the corner out on the main thoroughfare, a little bit of sunshine started peaking through the horizon, which was on my left.

I remembered thinking about this route and how long it had been since I had taken it. I'd ridden my bike on it last summer, but it had been a very long time since I'd walked it. Now I was running it. I remembered when I used to walk this path how I could only go so far down the road because I needed to get back in time to get ready for work. And now I was going to go all the way to the end of the path and back around because I was running it, now. Actually, it's a big loop.

And in the midst of my thoughts, I glanced over to the left and I saw a beautiful, darkly lit sunrise just over the water. There's this curvy lake that wraps through a neighborhood of houses, condos and apartments. Very few people go out on the lake because it’s rather small. But this morning, it looked so magnificent. It was a deep midnight blue color in the distance and the closer it got to me it turned into a light grayish blue. And the dark early morning clouds were reflecting on the water. There were orangish-yellow streetlights far across the other side along the shore of the apartment grounds that were reflecting on the water. They made long ribbon stripes of golden sparkles inching across the water. I was totally lost in the moment. Completely forgot I was running.

I was listening to This American Life and the show was about "match makers". Was really cool, because there were three segments, one was about a man in Afghanistan (or some place like that) who had found the love of his life but couldn't marry her because it wasn't pre-arranged. An American couple helped fund the wedding. The 2nd segment was about a lady who finds kidney donors for people, who she doesn't know from Adam, who need a kidney transplant. She posts all over the internet (Craig's List, etc.) looking for people who will donate their kidneys and then she finds people who need kidneys and hooks them up. The last segment was about an "adoption agency" in FAO Swartz in NYC who helps young girls adopt these life like baby dolls. This was the most precious story. The "sales people" were the adoption agents who were trained to present themselves as just that—not sales people. They weren't allowed to say things like "cost" or "price" and they actually interviewed the little girls with questions like "will you read to your baby each night?", etc. Was adorable. Here's a link to the broadcast if you want to listen to really great story telling.

I was so engrossed in the stories, that the time just flew by. I think I've found something to occupy my time so I don't get bored with the running as much. At least for now. I've found things like this in the past that helped me get past the boredom of walking and they each lasted for a while, but I inevitably get bored with that and then have to find something else.

I thoroughly enjoying running, though. It was so cold this morning, too. The temp on weather.com said it was 45, but it felt like 35. I could see my breath and my fingers were popsicles when I first started out. I had thermal underwear on and everything. Funny for Florida, right? But about 20 minutes in, I got warmed up.

I'm really doing terrible on my eating this week. I'm trying so hard, but I keep sabotaging myself every time I turn around. I'm afraid I might have gained those 4 pounds back. And I was doing so well, too.

.