Stoked!

I don't think I've ever used that word before but I am STOKED.

I am stoked because yesterday, Sonya and I went running and I ran a distance of 12 km!!!!!!!!!! Longest run yet, yes!!!!!!!!

It was very cool and it was raining a little and as every time, we started by walking between our two lucky trees (we also come out between those two same trees) and before long, we were jogging slowly until I told her to go ahead and pointed where we'd meet back.  I started my jogging playlist on my iPod and started the same stream of positive thoughts I mentioned previously.

To us, the time we spend jogging really is a time of meditation and thankfulness, a time we take selfishly for ourselves and there is no thinking of what goes wrong, but only what goes right.  I have found it is the only way that your body will follow beyond physical pain/fatigue. You have to find what will make your feet continue to go one in front of the other.

Something else I have noticed is that when you run, you want to take your mind off the effort so bad that your senses become more aware of your environment.  The green of the trees is greener, the sky is bluer,  you rejoice in the scent of pine trees and new flowers (something I especially notice at the mount and also when I run at the botanical garden), the sound of your feet hitting the gravel keeps your rhythm as does your breath.

Speaking of rhythm, I find it important to mention that when you are out of breath because you did not keep your pace as cautiously as you should have, it's okay to stop running for a minute and walk, take deep breaths to calm your heartbeat and start running again at the pace that is yours (we all have a pace we can go a long time on somewhat comfortably).  See it as a new beginning rather than "Oh no, I walked.". And a good way to feel good about that mini-break is also to tell yourself that a lot of people are at home sitting on their butt while you WALK.  :)

So back to my awesome run, when I reached the top, I felt like an asthmatic gasping for air. I'm sure it was a pretty sight. :P  Of course, that doesn't last long, you just have to take a few steps and keep breathing and really enjoy everything about reaching the top (or your goal distance) like the rush of blood I have become so addicted to, that feeling you have because your heart has pumped a lot, the sweat running down your skin, even the people looking at you with that obvious look of "I could never do that." (I want to guarantee them that if I can they can too).  (I refuse to think they might be thinking "Should I find someone who knows CPR?!? She looks like she's about to DIE!!!")

Nods.

So I was doing all this while admiring the view and then there was this amazing song that started playing in my ears. Not sure if I've ever mentioned it before but it's maybe my all time favourite song for running. 

Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQYpF2pCkLI&ob=av2e

It was all I needed to turn right back on my steps and run down instead of taking that shortcut that saves me something like 20 minutes of run. So there! Instead of 8 km, I did 12!!!!! And it never felt better!!!!!