run again

I went running today for the first time in a very long time. I got home from work and it was still light out. So I threw on some running clothes and my trusty old sneaks (I'm thinking I need some new ones by golly) and set out to get some much-needed exercise.

The Burlington golf course at the top of the hill hasn't opened yet, so I decided to run in that direction and take advantage of the beautiful paths there before we get kicked out for the summer.

Let me just say that the three blocks up the hill to Prospect Street are killer. And might I remind you that I haven't run in months?

Crisp April air iced my lungs, made it hurt to breathe even. And it was all I could do to keep my legs from giving out at the crest of Cliff Street. But somewhere, deep down in my innermost core, I dug up a tiny piece of will-power. I grabbed hold of it and used it to burst up and over the hill. My will grew stronger.

Before I knew it, I was on the golf course, jogging by a pair of beautiful ponds, one with a tall lone tree sitting on an island in the middle. The water rippled gently, casting bits of reflected sky this way and that like silvery leaves in the wind. (I've only ever seen the ponds in winter on a night snowshoe or snowboard excursion, lying dormant under the cold winter snow. What life they have come spring!) How lucky we are to have so much right outside our doorstep.

That sight alone gave me new energy and I sped along the path with ease. Before I knew it, I was back on the main road and running home. Feeling tired and winded and exhilarated. I stopped by Em and Kev's on the way home (they live right by the course). Emi gave me a cookie. Sapphire was being giggly and cute. After a while, I ran the rest of the way home.

Will I really keep this up? I hope so. A few years back, Em and I used to motivate ourselves by signing up for the Smokejack's 10k races in the fall. It would keep us running all summer, then by the time the race was over, we were so fit we just had to keep on going. Sadly, Smokejack's is no more, but I want to be that motivated again. I'm going to try. Anyone know of a good 10k in the fall?