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October 26, 2007
A Perfect Day Of Running
Can you picture this?
On this late October day, it's a surprising 68 degrees Fahrenheit. It's also miraculously sunny with the most gentle of breezes. By the weather, you would never guess that the aspen and cottonwood leaves have long since dropped to the ground. Or that the snow has come and gone, and come and gone again.
The trail is narrow, windy, and perfectly rolling. In some places, the trail contours precariously along steep, open hillsides. From such places, the view is spectacular, but you don't dare take your eyes off the ground. In other places, the trail dives into dense stands of trees. As you run, the trees pass by you in an alarming blur of late fall browns, and your feet land on soft layers of fallen leaves.
Your company is pleasantly chatty and perfectly paced. The pace is pushed just enough that uninterrupted conversation isn't possible. Instead, phrases and sentences come in rushed but highly enjoyable and entertaining spurts. You can hear her footfalls behind you, sometimes short stutter steps down steep trail bits, at other times matched exactly to your stride on the flat, straight portions of the trail. And, you can hear her breathing, mostly with deep, strong, fluid exhalations.
Your body and mind are able and willing. Your mind wants to charge uphill, and your body follows in perfect succession. Your legs move nimbly and your feet plant strongly, yielding mental confidence.
Just 1 perfect hour on the trail, just 7 perfect miles of running, that's all it takes.
Posted by Meghan at October 26, 2007 2:40 PM
Comments
I haven't run a step since the marathon on Sunday...too sick, then too tired, then work travel. I am so looking forward to tomorrow - it won't be on trail, it will be five miles only, but it will be with friends, and it will be perfectly perfect. I can't wait!
Posted by: backofpack at October 26, 2007 7:08 PM
Amen, sister.
Posted by: Kendra Borgfeelinit at October 26, 2007 9:47 PM
Sounds pretty perfect to me!
Posted by: Beth at October 27, 2007 7:24 PM
Ditto, girl!
Posted by: olga at October 27, 2007 9:33 PM
Give me some of that weather. It's not bad here, but it's a tad bit cool.
Sounds like heaven there. Send it this way when you're done with it, okay? I don't mind 2nd-hand.
Posted by: JeffO at October 28, 2007 9:57 AM