RUN 52

I passed 900 miles with my Garmin today, a little under 2 years since i bought it. I haven't taken it on every run, but it's the only measure i have. Running's power to inspire and transform comes from its inherit simplicity; to run you simply place one foot in front of the other, and repeat. How long this repetition continues depends on how much time you decide, or are able to dedicate. The reward running gives is in the accumulation of miles, each mile gives a little more confidence and a little more experience, one step at a time.

RUN 51

Sometimes things just work out perfectly, it's hard to know why or what contributed to that perfection, but when it happens it's a wonderful feeling. Muscles feel strong, energy levels are high, endurance and confidence building allowing you to push through the miles and appreciate everything around you; the sun, the water, the breeze, the people around you doing much the same thing you are. The adrenalin and endorphins stream through your brain filling you with a high that will last all day, that hour or two spent on myself will allow me to give back so much more to my friends, family and wife throughout the rest if the day.

RUN 50

Weekday morning runs i like to keep short and more for fun, personally i find my energy level is too low at the time of morning i get up to train effectively. I try to mix in a few morning recovery runs between longer evening or afternoon runs, and i dont worry about pace or time or distance, so long as im moving and keeping good form. I'll take breaks to do pushups or crunches or take in a view; like this morning i was hoping to see some of the Perseid Meteor Shower, the sky was partly hazy, although clear to the north east... i didnt see anything, i think i was up too late.

RUN 49

Its so easy to become caught up in a routine of work, eat, sleep; repeat. Doing something for myself, especially at the start of the day makes a tremendous difference. It doesn't have to be a run, sacrificing a little sleep to get up a half hour or hour earlier than your normal routine to take a walk, watch a sunrise; or run a few miles gives me a sense of empowerment, taking control of the day and doing what i want.

RUN 48

The weather sets the scene for every run, to enjoy each variation you must be conscious of it and adjust your expectations to suit the situation. That relationship is one which I really enjoy exploring through the seasons. I enjoy the challenges and surprises it presents. It teaches me that it is not wise to hold on to a predetermined set of ideals; acknowledging the situation before you and being flexible enough to make the most if it is a valuable skill to nurture; like a run in torrential rain...

RUN 47

Mentally and physically my toughest run of the year and my first trail run. 12k of mud, puddles, rain, humidity, ankle twisting gravel and winding hills. It was brutal, and I loved it! The first two miles I did everything wrong, was 2min per mile faster than pace and found myself breathless in third place at the first corner. The next 3 miles were spent falling back to my true pace and position, being overtaken is demoralizing and humbling, but it's what I needed, nothing else matters so long as I perform to the best of my abilities, it's an important lesson which I've learned before and was strongly reminded of today. The rest of the race I controlled pace and form as much as possible having not done much trail running and I finished the remaining 4 miles strong without dropping any more places. While I made some mistakes today and made a tough race tougher, I'm proud of my ability to recognize that and take control before it's too late.
[Chicago Trail Series; 12K; 0:54:51; 07:21; 31/120 runners]

RUN 46

Leading a happy fulfilling life requires constant evaluation; my wife taught me me the importance of this. To be successful at that you need to first establish which aspects of life give you most enjoyment, you must then simply pursue each of those aspects with equal attention. Once established, you also need to be open to adjusting the proportions of those elements to satisfy yourself and those you spend your life with. Neglecting any one of them will cause all to suffer. I think about these elements daily, and how best to balance them; my wife, our relationship, our future, my family, our health, relaxation, our nutrition, my fitness, my dedication, my temperament, tolerance and understanding. I have a tendency to neglect my sleep, which im feeling today, while a run always boosts my mood and energy level its no substitute for sufficient sleep, its something i need to remind myself to be concious of.

RUN 45

I see benefit in an experience or endeavor whether it's solitary, or social. Making that distinction either intentionally or accidentally certainly changes the experience, it seems to me a combination of these approaches will always yield the most benefit. Whether you lean towards solitary or social does not matter, whats important is taking the opportunity to expand your routine, expand your horizons and share the joy of your experience; or conversely, take time out to recharge and reconnect intimately with the endeavor. Being able to share with others the aspects of our life which bring us personal joy is both a privilege and a duty.

RUN 44

Most runs are preplanned and scheduled at least a day in advance, especially if training for a race. The duration and intensity might change depending on weather, stamina or time constraints. I think flexibility is important, being able to adapt training schedules to suit conditions and opportunities. Not every run is about training either for me, I enjoy running and the places it takes me, it's important to take every opportunity; like a run along the beach, even if it's timing is a surprise and outside of the weeks determined schedule. Not placing the schedule on a pedestal and adapting to the situation is a valuable skill to learn.

RUN 43

Starting the day with an early run establishes a peaceful baseline for the rest of the day, connecting with the world as it wakes up too; in the same way as a dog and her owner are up early sharing the sunrise, or a smoker pacing the garden enjoying the first cigarette of the day, our reasons for being there may differ, but the benefits are the same, these moments in life like many others are there for us to savor, we just need to go take them.