Find your happy place

The past few days have been indescribable.  The good, the bad, and the ugly have all reared their heads and I am looking them straight in the eye unblinking.  Today was a beautiful day weather-wise, but it went completely through me.

I had already run once this morning with my beloved BOMF team, but my energy levels were still high.  After running around doing errands I was already in the neighborhood so I decided to run the water promenade along the harbor.

I parked on Key Highway and started my run at Rash Field.  I had a lot of thinking to do and running is my go-to source to process it.  When I started out I was already feeling the impact of my day.

I was bopping along listening to my tunes feeling good.  I made it a point to look at every person I passed.  Some were walking with their heads down, others were looking straight a head, and a few looked right at me.  The ones that looked at me, I looked right back and smiled and said 'hello'.  Maybe they thought I was insane, still I connected with them.

Happiness continued to creep in and I felt weightless as I ran along.  A man, on his own run, was coming towards me.  I did something I rarely do especially to a total stranger; I extended my hand for a passing high-five.  He half-heartedly fived me back, but we connected and I zapped him with my energy.

Next as I wound along what paths I could that kept me close to the water, I ran past a group of construction workers.  We all know construction workers are notorious for hooting and hollering at women running or walking by.  I used to just duck my head and do my best to ignore them.  Today was different.  Today I looked right back at the workers and smiled.  One hispanic man looked at me and I smiled right back at him with my whole body.  He said, "Boy you have a pretty smile!"  I felt that smile and loved it!

I intended to go out for 17 minutes and turn around.  I figured a 34 minute run would give me about 4 miles.  When I reached the approximate 17 minute mark I was just about to pass a dock that extended off a point.  I ran out to the end of the wooden dock and stopped.  Coincidentally my iPod died just then.  Where I stood, it was as if I was surrounded by water and city.  I stood at the edge of it all. I took in my surroundings and the gentle, chilly breeze that blew right through me.  That's when I heard it: Pay attention.

The voice was in my head.  I knew I had to listen to it.

I set out the way I came.  Not entirely sure where I was, I knew as long as I stayed close to the water I was fine.  By the water, though, made me better than fine, it made me happy.  En route on my return, I hear another voice, 'This day is important' and I knew that it was.

I chewed on these two phrases for a while and as I approached the end of my run; that's when I had my last encounter.

Just in front of the Science Center I was coming upon a young couple walking with their toddler daughter. The little girl probably just started to walk a few months ago and both parents were walking slowly with her holding her hands.  Rationally I know they were talking to the little girl, but the words seemed to be said in my direction.  This may not even be what they really said, but this is what I heard, "She's trying".  They said it a few times and the words were picked up by the wind and carried my way.

I am paying attention to this important day and I am trying to listen and do what needs to be done.  Another run towards clarity logged in.

Speed Queen and Rocket Girl

There are some people you just know are from the same egg. Brenda Dailey (aka Speed Queen) is one of those.  After having the time of our lives bonding during the Ragnar Relay, Speed Queen and Rocket Girl (me) have postponed a run long enough.... 

SQ was immediately assigned the role of my big sister-a role she happily accepts. A superball of energy herself, SQ is a non-stop postive source and I was having a blast running some incredibly technical trails at Gunpowder with her today.

We set out up a very steep hill and my first thought was, she's trying to kill me! True to a little sister's mentality, I thought, "I can do anything you can do" so RG pushed through and hung with SQ.  We danced and skipped up and down hills strewn with loose rocks and roots galore.  Like ninjas, we lightly bound across water, over holes, and over fallen trees.

One particular hill was incredibly treacherous. We flew down a steep hillside that was more like randomly placed steps made of roots.  SQ bound down in an effortless form, I followed suit and jumped and hopped down the hill at full speed.  When flying like that down a hillside with hairpin turns and ample roots, its impossible to slow up.  It is dire you must remain fleet-footed, and sharp-witted.

When we reached the bottom of what could have easily ended in death or disfigurement, SQ stops, raises her arms in victory and says, "Yay!  A girl who can trail-run with me!" and gives me a big hug.  Yup, she's my kind of girl-never misses a moment to revel in lifes glories. We're alive!!!

I love this girl and look forward to many more runs and other bonding experiences.  She is on fire and I intend to bask in its glow.  Together Speed Queen and Rocket Girl will conquer the world and chick the dudes who just can't hang--Book 'em!

A religious experience: Loch Raven trail-running

In spite of the howling winds blowing the creaking, looming and leafless trees I was dazzled by the beauty that surrounded me.  The trails of the Loch Raven Reservoir are mostly strewn with leaves and this always makes me cautious of losing my way.  However, would getting lost in a place like this really be that bad?

The solitude involved with trail running is something that takes a period of adjustment.  Being alone in your head can be somewhat overwhelming at times.  As you wind along the paths covered in leaves, roots, rocks and soft earth, your body relaxes and thoughts sort themselves out as they neatly line up to be addressed one by one.

When I run the trails I wear my watch, but I do not time it.  I only need a rough estimate on the time I leave and when I return.  Though I am curious to my exact distance and pace, it's almost better to run on trails naked, so to speak.

It is mandatory you stay in tune your body so that you are aware of your footing, your balance, and your surroundings.  I do not run with headphones in the woods, all my senses are in use and I don't want anything to dampen my experience. Unless I know exactly where I am going and for how long, I usually take water with me.  Part of the enjoyment in trail running comes from the unknown and if I'm going to get lost I need to be prepared.

Every time I head out, I hope to find a new path.  Today I discovered not only a new path but an entire loop.  When I come to forks and crossroads I give myself only a split second to decide: right, left, or straight.  I don't pick the hardest or the easiest path, nor do I pick the one that looks the most-traveled.  I just pick the one that seems to fit.

view from the Dog Grave as I sit on the bench

Three points of interest today: The first I already anticipated.  It's referred to as the Dog Grave.  Only ten minutes of running from my house and you can reach it.  The Dog Grave is an area that is well-worn.  In a corner, under a tree, lies a pile of dog toys and a stepping stone with a small memorial to a man's best friend.  Directly 180 degrees from the grave is a make-shift bench between two trees.  The bench overlooks a great watery expanse.  For me, it is a must to sit here for a minute and take in the scenery.

Humbling expanse of trees

The second point of interest is a little harder to describe.  As I go up and down hills I am reveling at the size of the trees and the extent to which they expand. I stop for a moment and look up and out at the trees as they go on as far as the eye can see.  I suddenly feel dwarfed by my surroundings. I come to my first four-way trail intersection.  Merely listening to my internal compass, I turn left and head up the winding path through the ominous forest.

The third point happened by accident.  I didn't know when I turned left at the intersection that I would find my way back into familiar territory.   Nothing in the scenery clearly presented this evidence, but I felt like I've been here before. As I run, I take in my surroundings and, based only on intuition, I can immediately sense that if I keep going I will end up where I started.  That's when I pass one of my favorite 'off the beaten path' paths.  It took me a minute to realize what it was since I was coming from the other direction.

On top of the world

A smile spreads across my face and I turn down my path.  The wind picks up as I go along.  Wind is a common occurence along this path because you are essentially running along the top of a hill unshielded in any direction.  I come to my rocky end.  I stand there for a minute and feel as if I am standing on top of the world.  I have stood on my peak many times before and held a plethora of private thoughts. Though the wind numbs my face, I let out a sigh of gratitude for what I hold today. Thank God for this; I turn back.