This morning, on my first 13+ mile run in a very long time, I felt like I could have run forever! I promised myself I would stick to the plan (and I did), but I wanted to keep going…what is it about those days? It got me thinking…”What makes a good run?” Some days can be so hard. A myriad of variables can contribute to the overall design of a run, some weigh heavier than others. A solid 8 hours of sleep helped. A nutritious well-balanced dinner that included my favorite pre-run/race food of rice kicked in a pre-run bathroom visit. OK, too much information? Perhaps, but as Rachel Toor noted in her interview a pre-race poop can be sublime. I wore my new super-soft powder pink running top (what is it about certain gear that makes us happy?). A crisp 34 degrees and sunny day contributed to the euphoria, a warm and welcoming shot of vitamin D. I was happy to be in the company of good- humored and great story- telling LDFs. I have learned over the years of running that there are some combinations of running friends that can make the miles melt. I find that personality, temperament, confidence or a wicked sense of humor can change the dynamic and mood. Some days can be like a fabulous cocktail party and others more like a PTA meeting. And then there is pace (which incidentally is never even mentioned on a day like today). We start slow and gradually work into a faster pace near the end. The negative split mentality is implied and somehow works to create a satisfying finish. We feel strong. And finally, no foot pain. When you have a nagging injury, the mere absence of of its pain can spark energy. We all need runs like these to get us through the more mundane or painful ones. I sometimes equate training runs to a “crap shoot”…a game of chance we are trying to control as much as possible. The outcome can sometimes depend on what is going on in our lives before we hit the road, but when the elements align, it restores my love of running. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that we met next to a Starbucks today and the icing on the cake was the double tall soy latte to sip on the ride home:)
p.s. I tried the Tide Sport laundry detergent and thought it was great. For $10.99 at Target , I was able to make my running clothes and my husband and son’s tennis clothes smell- free. It is strong, but not overwhelming (a hint of “Fabreze” mixed with Irish Spring Fresh). I also picked up a bottle of the new Fabreze Sport odor eliminator for the shoe closet…so much better in there now!
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