Some days it feels like I could run forever, others like… well maybe shopping or picking up that book I’m reading or a bit of knitting would be such a better choice. Do you feel that way too?

It’s weird how that is?

Is it the weather, hydration, fuel, running buddies, my brain? Well, for me, it’s usually a combo.

Unless it’s a sharp pain… I always listen to the onset of a sharp pain.

Otherwise, it’s respecting the difference of the day and pressing… forward!

It’s funny, as I try new things with running… how the hard become easy and the easy become second nature. The concerns disappear or become manageable… oops another post for another day…

As I listen to it pour outside (and scurry the birds off my front porch chairs), I’ll share that this summer it’s been about running at least 3 days/week to get to a couple target long runs (Boilermaker & Run716). Running when I didn’t really want to but doing it anyways (because no sharp pain) because that’s what helps you learn what you can do and ways to do it better. Just go run. And (for me) have a focus.

This years been learning about running on the hot, humid July evenings… because why would you ever want to do that? Well, because there’s a group of your fellow crazies and it’s more fun and far easier to be crazy with friends.

While every run is different, with each different run the bar, the definition of hard, the possibilities… well they change too.

If I can share that it did used to be harder… to be motivated, to just push through, to wonder if that little nag would work itself out in the first mile or two, if it was too humid or hot or cold or wet, if I was really too tired.

Thank you to the running role models who helped and continue to help.

Every run is different… if they were all the same it would be unbearably boring and there would be no learning.