Inspiration.

This morning I went to turn on the news while I fed the boy his breakfast and prepared for the day, when I suddenly remembered that it was the day of the Chicago Marathon. My brother has run and completed that marathon at least 2 or 3 times, and it's on my bucket list to complete someday--hopefully within the next five years. I mean, it's a great city and it's supposed to be one of the flattest courses out there. (I HATE running hills!!!) As I watched the grace and beauty and seeming effortlessness of the winning runners, I realized, I'll never, ever look that good when I run. Then again, who cares? I feel pretty great when I run lately. If I don't forget to take my fuel on my long runs. If I don't eat some Shot Bloks before a longer run (over 5 miles), I feel like I'm running through cement. Unfortunately, that's what happened on Saturday...but I made it through  my seven miles regardless. 

As I gave my feelings more thought, I realized that somewhere along the line I have accepted myself as a runner. I am a runner, even though I'll never win a race. I am a runner, even though the average observer may never recognize it. I am a runner, because if it's been a few days since I've run, my feet get itching to move again. I am a runner, because after the first minute or so the automatic motion is comfortable and comforting, sort of like rocking in a rocking chair, only with more sweat and wind. I am a runner, because I don't even breathe hard while I run anymore. I am a runner, because I can say I'm going to run x number of miles and I do it. I am a runner, because I have completed two half-marathons, the second of which was actually a joy to run. I am a runner, because I actually LIKE running now. Even on crappy run days. So there's that.

The other thing that I find inspiring about running is that I get some good ideas while out there. Sure, I usually listen to music, but I'm also doing a lot of thinking, relatively uninterrupted. I determined on my last run that I should probably make a major change to my novel-start project, to change the POV to first person from third. I am already worried it will be seen as some kind of Harry Potter rip-off, so that change will help distance it from any comparisons. I feel like my idea is different enough not to set off alarm bells anyway, but more distance is better. So I hope that will help me get going more on it...I'm now on page five, when I started this story nearly a year ago. Sigh...

Haiku News

Nineteen sixty-eight

Pan Am hijacking suspect

finally caught...wow.

Israel left out

of Turkish NATO event;

Gaza is to blame.

Homeless find a voice

in St. Paul TV station,

spread awareness, too.