Patience; the new endurance sport.

When I got off the marathon bus on Saturday at 4:30 a.m. or so, the full moon was so huge and bright , and the stars so intense and sparkly over that line of bon fires, that I had a strong desire to start running down the road before the start time just to be running under that moon light.  Today I left the house early, and there was that moon, only slighly diminished since Saturday.  It was such a delicious feeling to run down my country road under that moon shining its bluish light over the fields.  It was bright enough, I could see the cattle dotting the yellow grass, and mist rising off the marsh.  I noticed my quads are still sore, but overall I feel good. I'm particularly pleased that my lower back, sciatic nerve, and piriformis are feeling well.  I credit the rigorous stretching, strengthening exersizes, and deep tissue massage prior to and post race.  It was wonderful to get out this morning, even if it was for just a few miles.  I walked on Sunday and again yesterday-- but sitting at my desk all day yesterday was a killer.  It felt wonderful to get out of bed and feel almost 100%-- the stairs, no longer mock me!

I am so in love with 'jogging' right now.  I feel like 4 miles might have pushed it a little, but I took it very slow.  I enjoyed every second of the frosty alfalfa fields and dark river water, running smooth and clear.  The sunlight is not quite as bleak as it gets in November, but the trail is that kind of lovely lonliness I find so poingant this time of year.  I posted a question about recovery on the message board, but everyone is so taken by the ongoing topics on Kelli's blog that no one will answer me.  I just hope I'm doing it right this time.  I read a topic posted by Sasha to some guy about two years ago about investing and reaping dividends and how you have to decide when to 'cash in'--but that sometimes you don't reap benefits for 6, 12, 18 months.  It was a good comment, and I feel it was true for me.  But I'd still like to know some conventional wisdom for recovery.  P.S.  Where is Smooth?  I need her.   

It's been decided: Boston -- April 19th, 2010.  For some serindipitous reason, everyone I know wants to come (even more excited than me--probably because they are not running the race). I have a quite a few friends in the Boston area, but friends from NYC, Connecticut, and New Jersey all want to be there too (and are staying with all the Boston friends).  They've all called each other and now the Boston Marathon has just become our most recent excuse to get everyone together in once place, at one time.  But strangely, even my boss wants to come--that came as gigantic surprize.  I don't even think she knows I run.  But she too loves Boston and thinks it would be exciting to have a good reason to watch the Marathon.  The best news for me is that  Catherine has also decided that she can go!  Even if she has to go alone (which I would prefer, less baggage, if you know what I mean).  Smooth is doing Boston-- plus a lot of others on the blog (Kelli, Scott, Josse (?), Walter,....who else?).  I hope we can get a big group FRB photo!  I thrilled to have something this cool to look forward to. My life is so swallowed up by my kids, their homework, their soccer/basketball games, my work, and cooking a million healty meals every week ( I have food issues that require a lot of effort on my part).  So being in Boston gives me a terrific excuse to see all of my bestest friends, run a race with my bestest running pals, and be somewhere cool in the Spring.  Isn't that just a vortex of fabulous coincidence?  I's so great that a whole lifestyle of eating healthy, sleeping well, excersizing in a way I love actually leads me to these opportunities.  It's like winning the lottery. I feel so lucky.  I know I should feel pleased just knowing that being healthy is a reward in and of itself, but I have learned that good health is a gift you are not always in charge of.  Even people who eat bacon and whisky every day can live to be 100, and perfectly healthy runners drop dead in races of heart attacks.  I'm just glad that in between, I get to see my friends, run with my pals, and be somewhere fun next spring. 

I think I've used up the last of my SGM endorphins.  I needed a little music to run with today. It is a pretty autumn afternoon, not quite a lush as the post-rain mornings, not quite as colorful as a few weeks from now.  I've been relishing my slow runs, but I can sure tell my quads did their best last Saturday, because they start heating up once I start getting a little speedy out there.  My cute dogs are just so happy to be out on the trail for regular runs.  I've had such random distances to run in the past few weeks. They are never sure if we are going 10 or 2 and they turn to me with imploring eyes to see if I'm really turning around... for real....right here?  They just sort of pause and wait, just in case I'm going to come back and run any further.  So for now, we are all just enjoying being outside while we start making our next plan come winter. 

Catherine came and we started our run in the dark. The moon cast blue light on the trail and made 'moon shade' from the tree branches.  It only lasted for 2 miles, then as it became lighter we were down by the lake  and watched as the clouds in the East, hugging the mountain tops, turned pink. Sunrise is one of the most spectacular things about being alive as far as I'm concerned.  I adore the sensation of being outside to witness it, and feel as if it is for me alone.  The lake was really still, not a wave or ripple on the surface.  The morning was very warm.  As we ran back, Catherine began to speed up, and I didn't mind so I went along with her pace.  But then I paid for it all day long.  My knees and hips were achy and sore. I had to get to Thanksgiving Point by 8:15 a. m. because I was putting on our first ever Kidney Walk.  It was a really fun event.  About 200 people showed and Charley's Hot Subs came and made hot steak and chicken sandwiches for everyone (the franchise owner donated his kidney to an emplyee last January).  My legs were tired to the bone by the end of the day.  I dropped into bed at 9:30 p.m. dead asleep.