Shedding

This morning I had a memorable run that almost didn't happen. My work often doesn't bring me home until close to , or after , midnight. That made my choice as to whether to join some friends for a 6 a.m. run , a matter of internal debate. The group often includes a sub 3 hour marathoner , a black belt in one of the martial arts , and a guy who has a running commentary during the runs ( I'm more of a silent type ) with a great sense of humor. I hadn't attended in quite awhile , so when I arrived at the rendezvous point , I was the only one there. I waited ten minutes , and almost decided to head home and get some more sleep...I'm glad I didn't.

My choice was to run the perimeter of two soccer fields ( about a third of a mile ) at a leisurely pace. Dogs , with their owners , began to arrive from various corners. They generally ignored me until lap eleven , when an Australian shepherd came at me barking. We have a leash law that wasn't being observed. I am a fan , generally , of dogs being allowed to run free , and today was no exception. I didn't feel threatened - much - but felt that every lap the owner would have to reel him in , so I chose to move on. In addition to shedding my concerns regarding the dog , I shed my hat and gloves. I had layered in polypropylene , cotton , and a windbreaker.

I decided to go to one of my favorite sections of the paved trail through the woods , which is part of the park system. It was beautiful with a coat of freshly fallen leaves. The purple hue of the early morning sky had shifted to more of a golden orange. The temperature had risen slightly , and my body temperature has followed suit. I shed the polypropylene and got my version of a second wind. I was committed to an easy run , so I seemed to notice more of nature along the way - the sights , smells , and sounds of late Autumn are impressive. There was an octogenarian couple along the way that amused and inspired me. He was doing his version of jogging , while his bride lagged at a leisurely walk. He gave me a nod and smile as I passed - the kind that fellow athletes sometime throw toward one another. She seemed to tolerate his bravado , or at least that was the way I read it. It gave me a smile.

I knew that a dental appointment loomed on the near horizon , so I headed for my car and trip home. As I retrieved my ditched layer from a pile of leaves , I looked to the sky - which had become a blue gray mix. I had ushered in the day with nine plus total miles , and a mindset ready to sit in the chair of my dentist.

My experience is that adding miles and building a base is almost always accompanied by a shedding of excess fat. May it be so. If you've read this far , I'm amazed. I thought this to be a blog worthy day , but question whether I've captured any of the beauty I took in this morning. Either way , thanks for being here. I'll rarely be so wordy in the future. I hope your training , and enjoyment of running , is giving you happiness through this holiday season.

Happy trails !

Chase