Death of the Sun

I had to make up some work at the park district for missing Thursday and Friday so I went in this morning for a few hours.

As I walked home I recalled walking home from work when I lived in Chicago. One particular day remains vivid in my mind. I had a 1 mile walk from the elevated train station to my apartment on Broadway. As I walked in the late afternoon summer light, surrounded by hundreds of people and cars, I felt an energy kick up inside of me, and I could not wait to change into my running shoes and start my Lake Michigan 5 miler.

Today I felt similar, the energy high and the desire to use it for running hills and the South Farms loop.

A beautiful, gentle snow fell from the gray sky, and the wind was very light. I got snug into my gear and started the loop, feeling strong and ready to work.

I ran to Busey Woods, did my mini loop, turned back and went through town, got to the arboretum and ran 15 x 100m hills like it was nothing, kept going and hit the South Farms going at a pretty good clip. When I got to the corn fields I was still moving strong. This is usually where I start to feel some fatigue from the wind, but the wind was not there today!

When I got to MBK I stopped to gaze at the female statue looking out over the snow covered field.

MBK is usually the hardest part of the loop for me because I feel I am furthest from home, and halfway through the park I have to change direction and head south again, which makes it seem like I am going backwards.

But today I ran MBK like I was on a 5 mile run - legs fresh, moving easily, breathing freely.

I eventually returned to the arboretum and began another set of 15 x 100m hill repeats. 3 people were sledding on the east side of the hill, which did not interfere with my running. My legs started to get a bit fatigued at hills 13-15, but I finished those off without a problem, and the final mile I went at hard, sprinting the final 800m, for a total of 16 miles with 30 hills.

I am low on cash this week, so I sadly passed Jimmy John's without stopping in, but I had a smile on my face on my walk home. The sun had vanished, the light now dreary and covered in shadow, which made a nice contrast with the fresh snow at my feet.

I still can't comprehend how I am going to run 50 miles at McNaughton in April.....

When I got home I enjoyed a hot bath, ate some pasta, garlic bread, and veggies, followed by working on a photograph as I relaxed and listened to music.

Halfway to the Zendo

Cul de Sac :