7am - ravine trail plus new trail downhill (9:39) - new trail portion felt fast and relatively comfortable - first time saying that in a long time. Of course, Travis told me he would crush that time running it uphill tacked on the end of his 8-miler - will update this post when I hear from him. Still just running short workouts, but today (even though it was 88 degrees and the first mile was brutal) was a reminder of why running is the ultimate in physical, mental and spiritual therapy. It doesn't happen all the time, and it rarely happens when you really want it to, but on occasion, in the middle of a run, the accumulated fatigue, the stresses of work, school, relationships, everyday life, just fade away and you're as one with your surroundings and could seemingly run in that zone forever. Halfway through the fastest portion of my run this morning, a large doe was on the twisty single track trail ahead of me and she casually ran in front for maybe 20 meters before easing off into the woods. As I went by, she glanced my way with neither fear nor enmity - it seemed to be more of an acknowledgement that I somehow belonged there. Even now, as I write this three hours later, my "runner's high" remains. Its gonna be a good day. Boy-child went 10 flat uphill on the new trail at 8.5 into his 10-miler - the team is definitely fired up for XC season.
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