Running Musings - 050807

I had a great run. I was back at home, and I was able to control the fan, and the temperature. There were many highlights. Some included Evanescence's Bring Me to Life and PJ's In My Tree. I had a goal to finish within x-time. Before I started running I realized that I increased my mileage for the week so I was ok with a running time between x-time and y-time. As I was running I was on a good path to completing in x-time. Again, the run seemed strong and I wasn't worn out by the heat. I had about a half mile to go, and I was going to slow down. I completed enough that although I may finish in longer than x-time, I shouldn't finish in longer than y-time. So, guess what song comes on next . . . take a wild guess . . . GIVEN TO FLY! Ok, I said Thank you to the air, and I started to run faster instead of slower. I immediately got a runner's high. I felt the surge of joy and gratitude, and I finished in faster than x-time! It was great, I did better than what I set out to do :)

So, a couple things of note. I was drafting a poem Inspired by Pearl Jam's Daughter before I started to run. Because I did that it took up some of my mental focus, which is actually really good because usually it's on the length to go or the length done or what have you. Note to self, write poetry before I run.

Also, I realized that Born to Run is reflective on my sensual life, my life of belonging, the life of boundaries I accept. It reminds me of NJ, the smells of certain times of year, and certain places, the sights of the highway at night, the feel of the humidity, and a welcome chill break in summer. Born to Run reflects the sensual self in that way. Even though I usually felt out of place, as a Jersey Girl I align myself with a group I choose, and with it I get a sense of belonging.

Given to Fly is reflective of my passionate self. It holds no boundaries, and it is the individual's journey. It is reflective of my ability to accomplish my goals, and it speaks to the boundaryless joy and gratitude I feel at any time it's available.

So, thanks to Bruce, and to Pearl Jam, I feel myself defined by strangers, and from that it's easy to walk down the street as part of the whole world :)