Love Suddenly

As of yesterday, my running record was a half mile. I’d done it twice, and each time left me breathless and floppy.

Today I figured I’d push it. I hadn’t run in two days, so my body was pretty rested. So as I started, taking a nice easy pace, I decided I’d shoot for three quarters. Breathing was great, form felt pretty good most of the time. It was easy enough I could watch the world go by as I was running. Coming around the corner to the half mile I had to pass a family. I always feel awkward passing people. My easy pace sets me going just barely faster than somefast walkers out there. I feel like I ought to speed up and breeze by them, but that takes all the wind out of me. So I was a little discouraged going into that third quarter, but I was determined.

Passed an older guy jogging just as I cleared the marker, and I still felt great so I figured why not, and I decided to push for a mile. By this time, I’m really in a good spot. I had to focus on relaxing my legs, but my breathing was great. I was breathing hard, but it was steady, and still loose enough I could breathe in through my nose every so often. When I get really winded, I can only breathe through my mouth.

I did it. I cleared a mile. For the first time possibly ever, I ran one solid mile without stopping to walk at all. I have no idea how long it took. I was going real slow. Channeling Zippy the Wonder Snail, totally.

It gets better. At a mile, I still felt great. Wasn’t running out of breath, and I finally felt like my legs were actually getting a workout. So I kept going. For those who don’t know, the concrete ring around the park is just under a mile and a half. You have to go about fifty feet past wherever you started to get that mile and a half in.

And today, I ran a mile and a half. Two days ago my record was a half mile. Today, I doubled that record! When I slowed to a walk (not much slower believe me) it was the strangest feeling. My breathing was tight, and I needed water, but my legs felt like they were lifting themselves. It was similar to the feeling I get when I’ve been walking on a treadmill for a while. Sort of floaty. I was a little lightheaded, so I took it nice and easy coming home. Tossing in the walk to and from the park, I did just over three miles total, and half of that was my run. I know I’ll have to take it easy tomorrow, probably just walk. But I did it.

Ki, I finally understand. It’s euphoric. Thanks for getting me started.