Well, I graduated.
I moved from the sprint to the Five Finger KSOs. Amazing.
The day they arrived I was on my way to deliver flyers for an amazing open house I was holding on a central city urban remodel http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?T=1447943. As most of you know, I do real estate. I usually have my flyers delivered by a high school kid, but he pulled out at the last minute and they had to get out. Looking at my KSOs I thought "put 'em on man and deliver them yourself!" So I did.
It was 110 degrees, but the historic neighborhoods of PHX have large mature trees and shade really is helpful. I had to run fast on sun exposed spots as the heat quickly made its way through the thin VFF sole. No matter, I was having an outstanding urban adventure. When finished my Garmin said 8.2 miles. Not to shabby for a work day.
The next morning I headed out at 4:45am for a trail run to beat the heat. This time of year out here is our "indoor time" due to extreme heat. If one is to exercise outdoors it has to be early, very early. The sun rises early here, so it is easy to get out of bed.
Behind my home there are endless valleys and canyons with abandon mines and even home foundations from desert dwellers of the past. As I crested a peak after 15 minutes of switchbacks the sun made its way above the mountain. It was a glorious awakening and I was glad I was there to witness the transformation from twilight to day. It's great to be a runner, isn't it? A full sun this time of year means extreme heat, so off I ran...not against other runners, but against the clock of increasing, scorching heat. An amazing morning for a life simplified and at one with its place in the universe.
Occasionally one sees a frightening friend (or foe) off in the distance. It's part of life here and they aren't that agressive really unless provoked. It's just disturbing seeing one.
Running is such an outward manifistation of an inward soul.
The heights by great men, reached and kept
Are not attained by sudden flight
But they while their companions slept
Were toiling upwards in the night
- Longfellow
More adventures to come...I'm back.
