Mirrors

I looked in the locker room mirror today, and for the first time in months, said, "you have a great body", and meant it.

Sunset

Gold, rose, violet, tangerine slashes
Breaking the clouds, cutting the blue.
A serene violence, battle in the sky.
A furious beauty, hiding her eyes.

Beautiful six miler, stunning colors. Felt great. 50:03.

And tonight, the first sober $lum experience of the year. Just remember, beer will not make you skinny nor fast.

Legends of the Fall

Regina, Iowa City: the truest cross country course I have ever run. Mud, hills, cold, logs, sticks, thorns, leaves. Repeat.

It was that feeling that comes deep from your gut, deep from your mind. The feeling of steadily holding your own against time against time, the pull from the runner in front of you and the push from the runner breathing heavily behind you. Force your legs up the hill, try to relax on the way down. Impossible - it's too muddy. Bank to bank of the trail, avoiding the mud that will suck your flats off your feet. It goes on for a while, maybe even too long. But it is so much fun!

Time-wise, too slow. Mentally, it was everything I could have wanted from a Thanksgiving Fun Run.