Goal Weight: 195 lbs.
I ran with a heavy heart this morning. I had scanned the headlines before I hit the streets and read about the shootings in Aurora, Colorado. As my feet pounded the pavement, I thought of what a screwed-up world we live in. I took in as much air as I could. I felt my chest expand and then I exhaled. I repeated it over and over and over as I ran. My left knee is slightly in pain because of a Patella tendon injury (the front part of my kneecap is sore). Worn shoes and tight muscles are to blame. I thought about myself for a few minutes instead of the fate of the world. The world seemed as dark as the pre-dawn sky above.
I had planned on only running three miles, but I craved the endorphins. I needed the “runners high” today. Quitting caffeine has been a challenge and has at times, left me very down. Bad news from a town that I’ve never been to was like someone throwing me an anchor in the deep-end of the pool. I kept running. And as the dawn began to sneak over the horizon, I felt better.
I read about some new pill (whose name I can’t pronounce) that promises to help people lose weight. Good for it — although it also has a list of side-effects. Exercise and diet have helped me lose weight, too. And they also have side-effects. Good side effects. Like improved mood.
I finished up my five-mile run drenched in sweat and in a better spirit. The world seems like it is going mad, but I know I can handle the chaos better than if I hadn’t run.
Great inspiration on a morning filled with sad news.