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.