I hesitate to write about this, because whenever I start writing about running, I tend to stop both running and writing.
I have had trouble recently having the energy and willpower to get out and running. When I get home from work, I have only enough energy to stumble to my couch, lie down, and stare at MST3K for at least an hour. This leads to being hungry, hungry leads to eating, eating leads to not wanting to go out and run... It's a vicious, lazy cycle.
However, I am having trouble sleeping in past 5am, because the sun is coming up and my curtains let in a lot of light. Usually, this leads to me rolling over, burying my head under blankets, and thinking, "Please oh please, just another hour."
Today, I capitalized on the situation, and rousted myself at 5am to go run. I had thought I would be starving or my muscles would be tight, or I would lose interest and head home.
Getting out was a bit cool at 4C, but once I started running, it was just fine. I was dressed almost too warmly, but in the end, a long-sleeve shirt, my running coat, and winter running pants were perfect.
Man, I can't tell you how lovely it was to be out there in the relative quiet, running beside the Ottawa river, listening to the sound of the birds greeting the morning, and watching the sun lighten the sky gently. There weren't many other runners out and I didn't have my music, but the scenery kept my attention well enough for 5km.
On the downside, my left calf started to cramp partway and my right Achilles tendon was stiff, so perhaps more stretching is needed, or it might just be how it goes when you get up and go straight to running.
I think I'd like to do more of this.
In other news, I think I recognize a paralympian on TV as someone who lives in my building. Squee!
