Sunny Running

I started running today in the sun and mild temperature (only -2) and quickly noticed how expansive and excited I was feeling. I wondered why it felt so darn good, why I felt unusually ecstatic. And then I realized that I haven’t run outside since last Wednesday – a full week ago! In fact, I’ve barely spent any time outside at all in the past week. I’ve practically been a shut in this whole reading week.

I rely on running to get me out the door and into big spaces, both physically and mentally. Being inside all the time has made things feel narrow – but there’s nothing like running under a clear blue sky beside a blinding white frozen lake to create some breathing room. As the Tibetan Buddhists like to say, “mind is like the sky” – everything is like the sky – open and endless – perfect for running.

So things were feeling good today. I had a bit of a kink in my left calf as I started, but it seemed to work itself loose as the run went on. My plan was around 11k easy (building up from yesterday’s 8k), and I stuck to it even though I wanted to keep running and running when I hit the turnaround point. No need to rush, though – the mileage will come back. I wore my Garmin, but I decided not to look at it during the run. I wanted to focus more on how I was feeling, especially on how I was breathing. Any struggle would require pace adjustment, so I didn’t want to get tied up in the Garmin’s constant data feed.

As it turned out, my legs felt great and my breathing wasn’t too bad. I know there’s junk in my lungs, but it wasn’t causing too much trouble. My breathing wasn’t as relaxed as I would’ve liked, but after the run I realized the main reason – I was running a bit quick. My final 5k was all 4:15/k and faster. That’s a good thing, especially because it felt so easy on my legs and heart, but I can tell that my lungs still have a ways to go before they’ll be able to handle some hard efforts.

Another thing that made the run particularly enjoyable was that every other runner seemed to be as blissed out as I was. I tend to be an annoyingly friendly runner. I’m one of those crazies who likes to smile and wave at every runner I pass (in either direction). I feel a kinship with everyone out there gettin’er done. Most runners ignore me – I don’t care, I do it anyway – but today runners and even some walkers were smiling and saying hello and waving, often before I did. I think everyone can feel spring coming – couple more weeks and I bet I’ll be back in the woods on the Shubie trail. Man, do I miss the trail.

What I won’t miss when the snow clears is all the pavement, the exhaust, and the cloud of salt dust that hangs in the air on dry days like this. I’m sure none of that can be good for my lungs, especially while I’ve got such a hoarse cough on the go.

No matter. It was great to be outside, great to be running, great to feel as open as the sky.