I'm Back.

I did it.

I made it a whole month without running.  Without a doubt, this was one of the most challenging things I have ever undertaken in my training life.  And the fact that I just referred to the 30 days with out running as training really and truly does indicate just how far I've come in wrapping my head around the idea that proper rest and proper recovery are a part of training, just like running miles and miles and miles is too.

Today, I was reunited with running.  And this is what I woke up to:

For one split second I thought that maybe my 30 day non running challenge should end tomorrow or that I should end it on the track at MRC...and then I thought, THIS IS CRAZY TALK!  I'm going running.  Outside.  In the elements.  Probably with wolves chasing me, too.

And run I did.  Just me, my ipod and a foot of snow.  I didn't even wear a watch.

And I remembered just how much I love to run, and how good it feels to be in the out of doors, simply putting one foot in front of the other, emptying my head of things and thoughts, and doing something for me for just a brief moment in time.  I smiled the whole time.  I laughed more than once.  I remembered and savoured what it felt like to run and to feel alive.

Because there had been so much snow, I should say that this was a tough first run back.  I was likely shuffling more than I was running, and the physical effort it takes to run through the snow (especially this heavy white stuff) is significantly different that a nice Sunday morning effort on a clear pathway in the summer. 

But this in itself reminded me of one very important thing.  And that is just how much this crazy journey that is running seems to parallel this crazy journey that is my life.  The lesson I take from this is that sometimes the hardest things to do are the right things to do.  The run today certainly proved just that.  And the way certain things have shaken down in the old life lately?  Let's just say there have been a few curveballs...and some really, really hard choices.  Much like the run in the snow, it IS hard, but I WILL get through it, and it will feel right in the end.

And running will be with me every step of the way.