Find the sun (it's there in between those clouds)

So we have had some weather lately.  This, being Arizona, is quite an occurance.  Things get flooded and muddy and roads erode and disappear in this type of weather---being that we live in a desert and all.  SO---people are starting to get a little cranky about the rain and storms.  (and in many cases rightfully so---a lot of roofs have been damaged, and driveways have become unpassable). But what I really love about this weather, is Arizona can't stay stormy for long.  The sun is constantly competing with the clouds and overcast skies.  So even though we may get inches of unwanted rain, there will be times, throughout the day, that you look at the window, and it's chamber of commerce perfect---sunny skies and sparkly clean buildings.  I love that the sun will NOT be taken down! I squeezed in a run last night before the new storm rolled in.  IT WAS ONE OF THOSE PERFECT RUNS.  Sky was blue, cacti were dewey, hot air baloons drifted overhead, I ran hills with relative ease, it was January and I was in shorts and a tank. Worth the cloudy wait, you know?

post-marathon NON blues

Marathon done and done.  I had a good 13 miles, a tough 3 miles, a resigned 7 miles, a decent 2 miles, and a pretty good finishing mile.
Gotta keep some perspective. 
I'm glad I did it, and I am glad I don't plan on doing it again anytime soon.
I have decided that the HALF marathon is the perfect distance for me.  I think. I'll do that again on Valentines Day (but shhhhh---I'm not telling anyone---AGAIN).
I love the challenge of a marathon, but what I learned through this training period is that what I love most of all is the ability to simply "go for a run."  Not the distance or the metal so much---just the personal knowledge that your body can run.  That innnate sense of personal satisfaction that involves endurance and heavy breathing. The core truth that you can throw on some shoes and move thorugh time and space with relative ease.  That's pretty great, right? I like to feel strong and healthy.  I like to know my car can break down and I could run to the nearest gas station---even if said gas station were many miles away. I like to know that there are muscles that exist that can propel me, pretty steadily, over rocks and trails and roads and track and grass and even treadmills. I like how I look (in my own mind) when I run.  I don't so much like the race pictures they take---that destroys my mental image.  But I like my minds' picture---because I look beautiful and fierce and, well, happy.

in 48 hours...

I should be entering about mile 20 of my marathon.  At least I hope I am. If I'm not, things are not going well. And, well, that's a distinct possibility, because my body is not in what one would call  "top form" right now.  I have a cold and a sore throat, the cramping just began for major PMS fun, and I'm really, really tired---oh and nausea (a side benefit of the impending ulcer of work stress this week) has set in.  Besides that, (and the fact that I never completed that last 22 miler before taper began), and I'm feeling like a million bucks. 
SO, I have now turned this marthon into a "how strong am I mentally" kind of run.  It can't be about how well I've trained or how much endurance I have, because frankly my body feels like crap.  Crap on anti-biotics.  So mental toughness comes into play.  I'll let you know how the mind held up in about 60 hours---give or take.

marathon on the brain

I can't seem to work for more than 10 minutes before the realization that I am ONLY 8 days away from my marathon sneaks in and distracts me.  I would maybe classify this as overwhelmed.  It reminds me of when I was pregnant and you would forget for a few minutes that you were about to have a baby, then you would look down (or get kicked internally!) and the enormity of the situation would flood your mind. OK-so maybe not that important of a life event---but signigficant nontheless.
Hope I can run the whole way.
Hope my knees are kind to me.
Hope I enjoy it.

Phoenix in January, the very best place to run.

I just need to remind myself how super fantastic Phoenix is in January. I think it may be my very favorite month here on the surface of the sun. I am yearning to get outside and run in this mid-seventies loveliness.
SO come July, as I lay huddled in air-conditioned un-naturalness, I need to close my eyes and recall this blue sky sunny perfection.
Off to run.

Resolve

It's time again. I resolve to write. Looking back over my sparse offerings in 2009, I will say that I had the right spirit, just not enough resolve, so here I am again.
An update---the marathon I mentioned last year is actually happening on 1/17/2010---so I did commit to THAT at least.
The latter part of '09 was busy and hugely rewarding---more on my running exploits to follow.
2010--I will write about you, I will agressively seek joy in you.
Happiest of this newest year!