First run of the year...
The sunlight and above-freezing temperature this weekend have been very nice. I ran outside for the first time this year and reminded myself how wonderful it feels. To me, running is a celebration of being human. It's something our bodies were built to do, and do well. We're the fastest of the great apes and have one of the highest anaerobic thresholds of any land mammal. Few other animals can get up to speed and just cruise all day. I think only horses and dogs can do that, which is probably why we like them so much. I like coming across deer in the woods and feeling that long distant instinct kick in, telling me to run after them, because no matter how much faster they may be, they will tire out long before I do, to the point that even with my stubby fingernails and tiny teeth I can eventually take one down. Then my modern brain reminds me that the tiny oranges and pesto rotini waiting at home are much more appealing. I love climbing hills now because I pay attention to how my gait changes, how I enter each stride a bit more crouched down, landing on the balls of my feet with my toes spread and clawing for traction. I imagine if I didn't have shoes on, my toenails would tear into the asphalt and send chunks of it flying with each step. In a few weeks I'll probably be paying more attention to pacing, heart rates, personal records, qualifiers, and other such distractions. For now I just want to write this feeling down, so when I get disappointed by those things of lesser importance, I can come back and remind myself why I run.