It's starting to click.

Thursday – Run/PT (AM)
Distance: 6.0 death march
Course: South on Cliffs, then up to 101
Time:49:22
Avg. Pace: 8:13
Avg. HR: 158

Friday – Run (AM)
Distance: 5.0
Course: North on 101
Time: 36:43
Avg. Pace: 7:20
Avg. HR: 165

Today was the day where it clicked.

After my tempo from Wednesday, Thursday's run was...rough. I could barely get one foot in front of the other, I was running so slow, and it was so hard. I knew it was a result of the tempo from the day before but still it can be so frustrating to run at 8:15 pace and have it be HARD when I know that I can comfortably cruise around 7:30s when I'm in shape. And I KNOW that I'm not in shape yet, it's just kinda frustrating to have the mind of an in shape runner and have to wait for my body to catch up. Not that I'm complaining at all. I'm so glad to run and I'd relish every run even if I never could get fast again.

So, today's run felt different right away. It didn't take me nearly as long to warm up and while the first mile was by far the slowest of my run, it was still a respectable starting point. As I eased into my run I settled into my pace and let the steady in and out of my breath keep my rhythm. I focused on the slight twinge in my knee (not the pes, something higher…keep an eye on that) and the blisters that were trying to form on the inside of my feet from the new orthotics (must be patient as my body adjusts to a better running style). My entire focus was on my body and mind at this moment. I was utterly engrossed in the run.

The Garmin beeped at mile 2, I casually glanced at the watch. I had just clipped off a 7:30 mile. It had felt so effortless. I was sure it would come down and settle into the mid 7:40s for mile three, where all my runs lately seem to be settling when I'm feeling good.

I decided to flip around in case the blisters got worse, and if things felt okay I'd add on a mile to round out the 5 I had planned. I started thinking about appropriate paces for upcoming workouts I had in mind. Rest and recovery, morning or evening. The Garmin beeped again. Mile 3 – 7:18. How had I just run faster? I hadn't increased my effort, or at least I thought I hadn't. And then the thought arose in my mind: It's finally clicking. I'm sure my euphoria that I was finally cruising at a decent pace without trying contributed to the 7:05 mile which appeared on my watch for mile 4. Just the other day I had tried to tempo and a 6:54 felt like I was running in water with a fifty pound bag trapped to my back. I laughed out loud at how good this all felt. Today I felt light, in the zone, moving comfortably fast. The last mile I pushed it up to tempo effort. Now the legs were feeling the strain, the breath a bit more ragged, but damn, I was having FUN. As I rolled into my apartment complex, sweat drops rolling down my nose and splashing on to the pavement, I laughed out loud once more. This was the feeling I had been chasing. The high I had found for oh so brief a time back during Dirt Dog and had been deprived of since January 2007.

I know there are plenty of crappy runs in my future, and that one good run doesn't mean I'm by any means close to being in shape. But it was a good reminder that I'm on the right track. And it was wonderful to feel so euphoric and so completely happy. And to be healthy. I don't feel like I’m about to fall apart, which is amazing.

Life is pretty good.