Flying

If you run enough in life then one day you might actually take flight.  There is a quote I found by Paul E. Richardson which supports this:

"When you walk one foot is always on the ground.  When you run, most of the time you are actually airborne."

 In his book, Running is Flying, Mr. Richardson goes on to mathematically derive the percentage of time one if actually airborne during a 10 mile run.  Surprisingly, I will not share those details with you all.  This post relates more to the figurative meaning of flying one may experience during a run as opposed to diving into how frequently both of my feet are literally airborne.

Today, 29 Sept 2013, was one of those days where I felt like I had taken flight.  Today was only 7 weeks after beginning to train post stress fracture.  And I was flying...only 7 weeks in!  I felt like myself out there on the road.  I am comfortable saying that I was happier than a pig in mud (or shit).  Seven miles of pure heavenly ecstasy.  Endorphins are the best drug....EVER!

As I stepped out my door to start he cool autumn breeze reddened the apples of my cheeks with chilly kisses.  At the same time the sun beamed down, keeping me warm without ever suffocating me with heat.  The perfect day to have a perfect run.  Maybe it was the weather.  Maybe it was time to remind myself not all [fitness] has been lost.  Maybe something deep inside of me awakened with the change of seasons and that something just needed to stretch its legs. 

Whatever the cause, I felt like myself. 

I have found my stride.

While running on this beautiful day, my mind starting running again as well.  For the first time in a long time I ran like I was competing, like I was going for a personal record, like I was meeting challenges and beating them.  I believe sports psychologists refer to these imaginative scenarios as visualizations.  What I visualize on a good day of running is highly indicative of what I truly desire the most.  No matter how big the goal on a good day of running I can see myself achieving it.  There is no one around to make me doubt myself.  Too be fair and honest I don't always aim high, some days those visualizations center around the carton of ice cream I plan on decimating when I return home, and that's okay too.  But not during these 7 miles... today I was dreaming big!  I was dreaming of hitting low 1:20 half marathons...of winning the Top of Utah Marathon to earn a spot in the Olympic trials.  Today I was reminded of what it is that I want to achieve as a runner.  And more importantly that I have what it takes to achieve those goals.  As I visualized I felt my turnover effortlessly quickening.

Today I was flying.  Today I got to be myself...and it felt great!