Decision for Forward Motion

Distance: 6 miles
Start time: 8:10 am
Run Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
Pace: 11.67 minutes/mile
Temperature: 82 degrees
Humidity: 87%
Location: Memorial Park, Houston


Mile three: I checked in with myself. I was feeling hot, certainly. But only hot. My legs and lungs were fine. I could do more.

There are markers built into the path at Memorial every quarter mile. The path is a state of disrepair at this time. Houston has been in drought for months and last week was hit by drenching rains. This caused the path to swell and crack. It's not easy to see a lot of the markers, some of them are covered by gravel. I noted the next marker on the path and kept an eye out for more, planning to click off the distance as I listened to NPR's Saturday morning news report.

I almost missed the stone that told me I'd run a total of three and a half miles and I was at a decision point. I could turn around and run back to my parking spot for a total of four miles or go forward and get in six miles today. I checked in with myself again. I was hot. My legs and lungs were fine. I could do more. I ran on.

I'm glad I made that decision. By the time I finished my run today my legs were starting to fatigue. My breathing was beginning to labor. I feel like I had a workout. I also needed to push myself a little harder. I also needed to move forward. I couldn't go back today.

I've been struggling to look for hidden markers for weeks now. As I ran those last two miles I experienced something I haven't ever, EVER experienced as a runner. I know my MP3 player was on. I know there was a radio program in my ears, but I don't remember what was playing. My eyes were on the trail and I was in an almost trance-like state. I was in the run.

I was moving forward. Today, I raise up my gratitude for the gift of the freedom to make decisions and for the ability to recognize that sometimes the search for hidden external markers isn't even relevant upon my decisions.