The first event of the year was the Carlsbad half marathon this past Sunday (22nd). A personal goal of mine is to run all my half marathons under 2 hours. The beginning of the training was promising and then I got sick for 2 weeks in December and then took way too many trips in January. The Friday right before the race, I got whacked on the knee by a snowboarder who fell dismounting the ski lift. THEN I decided that drinking a few beers the night before wasn't going to affect my performance... and neither will sleeping through burning plastic all the while inhaling in plastic soot. Yes, the odds were stacked against me, but I still ran the Carlsbad half marathon and I still finished in a decent enough time. My next race (Surf City USA) is coming up in less than 2 weeks and again am hoping for a sub 2 race time.
While out running today, my legs felt heavy, it was hot, and I was grumpy. Yet, I knew that no matter how shitty and slow of a run it would be, I would feel infinitely better when I was done. With that in mind, my mood improved, I was enjoying the sun baking my skin to 5 shades darker and the breeze cooling it down. The chirping of humming birds resonated in the slight valley by the Pepper Canyon apartment at UCSD. My breathing was easy even though my Garmin was registering me at 180 bpm. I finished the run and I was right, I did feel a lot better. More relaxed, lungs expanded and happy, and re-centered and focused.
Running is my therapy and it makes me happy. This is why I run.
