I really really didn't want to run today. But I told myself that I just had to run for 2 hours and that would count (and for some reason that seemed better than telling myself I was going to go run for 15 miles) and so was able to get myself out the door. I self-defeating-behavior-ed myself out about a half hour too late, but given how I was feeling it was awesome that I made it out at all. I had been building up running in my mind since Friday or Saturday to the point that I was thinking about never doing it again, and I knew that the only way to make that stop would be to just go. My first few miles were a lot slower than normal, but I was on an out-and-back road that would be uphill for the first half and I was just trying to be out. After a couple of miles something clicked and I was really glad to be running. It was the perfect temperature, I was away from our ghetto neighborhood, there were other runners out, the air smelled like springtime, and the sun rising over the mountains and trees was very peaceful. I decided that I'd probably have enough time to turn around after 5 miles. And at almost exactly 5 miles I saw a park with a potty that was unlocked and pretty clean! And there was a running fountain like the one at Liberty Park! It was a running miracle. I had the gel I had brought (experimenting with different types) and it was delicious - a tangerine cliff shot with almost the exact taste and texture of the orange Triaminic that I used to love. As I ran home I was filled with joy at the wonderful route the running gods had blessed me with (I thought about writing a thank-you note to Alpine for having the bathrooms open early in the morning on a weekday, but what if it's a mistake and they fix it after they get my note?) and I really did feel like my performance was boosted by at least 8%. And just like that I loved running again. Splits: 10:28, 10:09, 10:06, 9:43, 9:59, 9:39, 9:17, 8:45, 8:32, 7:37 (9:26 average) | 