Friday, February 8, 2008 –

35 degrees –

wore: Sugoi, tank top, sports bra, thigh socks, loose knit stretch pants –

44 minutes – to the park, around the park, and back –

must check distance, but about 3.6(?) miles

FINALLY!! My prophecy of being shocked shitless by my progress has come true. I must admit I was a little spooked by my last run – so difficult and much less endurance. Today, however, truly amazed me. I started out running with the usual beginning difficulty, but soon was able to get my mind right. When the crampy feeling came, I simply asked myself how I felt. I felt fine in my legs, I felt fine in my breathing, so the only place that was troubling me was my tummy. I told myself that the feeling had always passed before, and before long, it did. Soon enough, and I looked at my watch and had gone 11 minutes, then 15 minutes. I had told myself I only had to do 30 minutes today, which was my longest continual run, so in my mind, I was halfway done. Then I looked up, and it was 27 minutes, then 30…at which point I told myself everything else was gravy. The only time I really slowed was on a hill very late in the run, but after I crested that, my energy came right back, and I was running better than I had the whole run. The whole time I was training, I kept looking at the beautiful trees ahead and thinking, “I get to run to that right now. I am so fortunate to get to run to that right now.” I was at about 40 minutes as I came out of the park. Feeling amazing and like I didn’t need to stop at all. In fact, If I hadn’t had someplace to be, I would have kept going. I felt at that moment, that I truly was a runner.

As I was running back home, I experienced for the first time what I call a MACHINE MOMENT – when everytying was pumping like a metronome, my mind was totally focused and clear, and all was right and unified in my world. I suddenly realized that this is what the Kenyans must feel like.

I got home at 44 minutes.. I can’t wait to run again.