One of the reasons I run

The weather has been amazing mellow recently, which is no good for us skiers this late in Dec but it is good for us runners. I like the brisk days that are bright and uplifting. I have needed that this week.

Suffice it to say, it has been a bit of a tough week. The Xmas holiday was a joy with lots of family, food and fun, all one could wish for. The let down after it was something else though, and up there with one other in the past that I remember being particularly difficult to take. After some intense drama in my own personal life, I was left a hollowed being, yet had to carry on with a day of commitments - hours in the hospital with dad for a fluid drain, my own appointments, and the emotional rollercoaster that I was on. I had to miss running on that day - even if I had wanted to, there wasn't time for it. Good thing I didn't really want to.

But I got out the next morning and it was a great morning to do it! It was bright and gorgeous, but warm enough for a single layer and no headband. I chose to do my Regal route, though was going from a different direction than usual so I just did it out and back, to insure I got as many hills as I could :)

It was serene and peaceful. There were deer and hawks. I was able to just be alone with my thoughts (and my beloved iPod). I wouldnt say it helped to clear my head, as there were too many thoughts for that to even be possible. But it did let me think them through one by one, try to understand what is going on, make sense of where I am right now. I won't say it fixed things but it gave me a couple new thoughts and maybe some clarity.

Things with dad are a bit worrisome right now. I don't know if there is too much new concern, from the medical side at least, but Dad is anxious and it is eating him up, I can tell. I hate to see his despair and nervousness. And I hate to think what, if anything, the new symptoms and issues could mean. In reality, it is a dose of perspective. Things are hard, but they are harder for him. And life is hard and complicated.

That is one of the reasons I love to run. Running, like life, has to be taken one step at a time, the road is long, but you will, at some point, come to the crest of the hill. Step by step, day by day, drop by drop. Keep going, don't give up, don't ever give up.