Day 56 - A Good Run = A Good Day

Thanks to Joe Thorne over at Learning to Run I was “up and at ‘em” yesterday. I wanted to find some magic in my runs, rather than just complete the distance. So I grabbed the FBH and we headed for the coast. We’re about 17km inland in suburbia.

The run starts around 3km from Hillarys Boat Harbor so we run there and back, totalling 6kms.

I started off feeling all uncoordinated. Breathing out of time and basically wondering if it was a good idea.

But, I had just read an interview over at Runners Lounge and Amy gave some advice that said: “the first mile sucks!”. With that in my mind I kept going and, without pushing myself unnecessarily, kept running for the first 3kms. Each time I wanted to stop and walk I set a small goal (next lamp post, next side road etc) but when I got to the goal I just set another one and kept running.

True to the advice, I started to get in sync and get some rhythm. I started to enjoy the run.

I then started to find the “magic”. I looked around and noticed the coast line, how the previous night’s storm had changed the beach line. What had been washed up and been caught on wire fences.

I noticed the fine spray as the waves crashed and noticed it was only in certain spots, small cove-like places. I also noticed it was the proverbial calm after the storm. Little wind. White high clouds but still cool from the moisture in the air. A few surfers out looking some waves to catch.

In fact as I looked ahead and visualised the coastline I could have been in the Mediterranean (where we will be next year! ). So that generated a thought to run along the coast when we are over there. Cinque Terre, Pescara etc. That will provide some great pictures.

Once I’d got back to the car, I waited for the FBH as she had walked the same route. By the time she got back I was ready to do a little more, I felt so refreshed. But I resisted the urge not wanting to over do it and ruin the fantastic place I was in.

We headed off home and I decided to got to a new church (Anglican) just to re-acquaint myself with “He Who Must be Obeyed” which I enjoyed. It was not quite the stately church and stained glass windows, actually it was a community hall, but it brought back good memories of the time I was a kid and how it was a good place to go.

Then it was Mother-in-Law Duty so we raced over to FBH’s Mum’s place for lunch. Which we missed out on because we were late (12:00 is late??) so we munched on salad, red wine and a few biscuits. Still, it’s Mum so it was a good time.

I reflected on what had happened up until 2:00pm: the run, church and seeing Mum and decided it was a good day. All started with a magical run.

Oh, and two more Tools of the Trade I meant to mention:

• Ipod nano
• Brain!

The second of those being the most important.

I hope you’re having a good weekend.

Bill

Tagged as: Exercise, health, running