Patience; the new endurance sport.

I am so thrilled at the prospect of NOT training for a marathon that running seems fun again. I don't really want to think about St. George. Maybe I just have to accept that my body can't do what it used to do (speed nor distance).  Maybe my wrecked hamstrings and sad variety of exhausting ailments have sucked the joy out of trying hard.  I don't know. But I do know that running--at any pace-- for no better reason than to be near the sound and sight of the rushing river, and to be one of the few witnesses of the cool morning daybreak is enough for me. I tried something new today that felt kind of good--I walked backwards up the big hills instead of running them.  

Walked/ran up to the cemetery taking the opportunity to walk backwards up the hill again.  I love how it makes my quads burn.  Watched the valley come alive from the mountaintop, I adore the view of the valley and the lake from up there.  Came home and did my 300 sit ups and 60 push ups and other stuff.  I love feeling strong without feeling exhausted.  It's such a nice change.  I always want MORE though. Who knows, I might join the gym again to take a spin class. 

Ran and remarked the course for the first 10K of the Red Hot Pink Chicks for Saturday.  I marked 'the scenic route' and the straight route depening on what Jos and I decide when we got set up the markers tomorrow.

RHPC!! We set up the course markers last night.  It was so fun to be out on the trail in the full moon, sneaking around with flashlights. The night was beautiful.  The morning topped it.  The full moon still hung low in the sky cradled by the fat pink horizon.  The sky was blue and the morning still and perfect as only a summer's day can be.  My friend Chrysula from Australia, living in NYC (well, Connecticut) came and so I ran the 10 K distance with her.  I really felt like running more and had hoped to run 10 total.  It was fun to see everyone at the start.  It feels like a running reunion.  There was a little wind at the mouth of the canyon, but otherwise it was perfect temperature. I had a nice chat with Chysula and it was fun to see everyone.  Lily won the prized red hot rooster. Said goodbye to Michelle in case I don't get to see her off to Hong Kong.  Got a few more miles in running back up the trail to collect the trail markers.  I'll miss Michelle.