Day 23 (6 miles)

It must be Memorial Day because when I went to the park in Woodinville late this morning every couple and their 2.5 kids were outside, mostly on bikes cruising up and down the Sammamish River Trail.  There were also some hardcore extended-weekend-warriors who just can't get enough.  Maybe after all of this training is over with I'll give in and ride my hybrid road bike up Burke-Gilman from Gas Works park, then over to Woodinville for lunch then onwards to Issaquah.  That sounds pretty cool.  Right?

Though the day wasn't perfect, weather wise, I appreciated the fact that I was able to be running, even though my speed is more of an extremely labored waddle.  On this 6.0 mile run I started to take note of the blessings in my life and I began to smile.  What I noticed was that other people smiled back at me like they were infectiously jolted out of the seriousness of physical exertion.  So I kept up the smiling and what happened?  I began to run faster.  My form straightened up.  My kick went from scuffing the ground to almost a proud prance.  It wasn't exactly a runner's high, I've felt those before and this wasn't it.  But still, in some sense, it felt good.

So.  Happy Memorial Day!  Get out there and bike, run, jog, trot, walk, or waddle.  And smile while you're doing it!  : )