January 15th, Tuesday
” Running was the time he felt most alive. He knew that as surely as he’d ever known anything.”
~~~~~ Richard Christian Matheson, “Third Wind”
Today was a magnificently clear, sunny and calm day in the middle of January. The temperature was in the middle thirties, but I was layered up and cozy. I had a goal to complete four miles no matter how long it took. My calf muscle is obviously not completely healed. So, throughout eight laps I had twinges of pain. I was constantly mulling the decision to continue for the benefits of a good aerobic workout or to stop to prevent the possibility of re-injuring my calf muscle and being sidelined for another week or more. I kept pushing on while stopping to mollify the discomfort in my muscle each lap. The effort took 1:07 with ten minutes of that time spent stopped for calf stretching. The temptation to bag it each lamp was constant. I was surprised at how exhilarated I was with completing this very slow workout. Getting out on the track after ten days was surely a motivator. But, mainly, I was too spellbound by the crisp air and blue sky and bright sunshine and soft cinders to terminate the moment.