Fourteen

Before and after my run on this rainy Easter Sunday.

I'm drowsing a little bit this afternoon, post-run, post-big-brunch, settled in the glow of endorphin and accomplishment.

The RunRaleigh Half Marathon is two weeks away and I had shirked my long runs for the past two weekends.  I set out today to run at least 12 - and maybe more, if my legs would cooperate.

Rain was falling when I woke this morning, a light drizzle from a gray sky. Thankfully, this was a warm(er) spring rain.

I wanted to completely zone out, shush the nagging constant chatter in my brain. Mute it into a hum that was indistinguishable from the falling rain.

It took nearly an hour - somewhere between the six and seven mile mark - for the quietness to come. But come it did, unrolling like a blanket to match the gray skies. The running was effortless today, my lean legs carrying my knowing feet over so many miles of pavement.

My right Achilles tendon started whining a little the last few miles, protesting the addition - but a little whining was not going to stop me today.

One final loop in my soon-to-be-old neighborhood. One final loop carrying me over a new threshold.

14.02 miles ran today. How thankful I am.