Back in Love

Lately I haven't been LOVING running.  I have been running, and happy to go running, but not like IN LOVE with running. I think it has something to do with constantly being on a training plan. I haven't run many trails and everything has been on the road.

Today I started out on the road and had plans to stay on the road, but then I saw this "road" that leads off through the hills. I took it. I didn't care if I got grass seeds in my shoes, I was heading to the hills!

See the road?

I ran until I came to a gate and then stopped to decide if I should go back or cross the fence and keep going up.  While I procrastinated which way I wanted to go I snapped this picture of my little dog watching a cow. He really likes cows.

I started down the hill and then stopped.  I didn't want to go back to the main roads, I wanted to go up, I wanted to stay on trails, I wanted solitude. I wanted quiet. I wanted more wide open spaces.

I wanted this.

and this

I stopped and did about 15 minutes of yoga and 15 minutes of just sitting with my dog enjoying the views. It was a beautiful fall day.

Then I finished my run rather euphoric, my legs are feeling good and recovered and my soul refreshed. Seriously the best run mentally in a long time.  I think I will do nothing but trails every chance I get for awhile.

and while I don't know if running really is cheaper than therapy, runs like this are the best kind of therapy.   While I still may do a half marathon in October I have already decided I am not going to go all out training for it. I love running half marathons, I just am so over doing 800s and tempo runs and trying to reach specific paces etc, I just want to enjoy running for running.  Besides all these crazy hills are pretty good training.

I already have three halfs and a relay on the schedule for next year.  This year will hopefully have one more half marathon and at least one more 5k.

When was the last time you had a "fall back in love with running" run?