Don't trust strangers.

Grace is especially good at this rule. She barks and gets all poofy around strangers. She takes a little longer to warm up to new people than Pete does. Then again, Pete doesn't feel that he needs to prove himself. Grace feels the need to act tough, or Pete gives her a false sense of confidence. One of the two.

Anyways, I need to write about the run I had last night. I'm paying for it today, but it was one of "those runs." If you're a runner, you know what I'm talking about. I am not a runner, but I have experienced these mythical runs once in a blue moon. I hadn't even planned on running last night. It was almost 7 and I had just finished Cheetos and Coke Zero. Something lured me to pull on my New Balance Minimus' and put on my watch. I was pretty upset that my iPod wasn't charged, but I decided to head out anyways. As soon as my feet hit the pavement, I knew. This was going to be one of those runs. My feet felt the pavement through my minimal shoes. The sun had just slid behind the mountains, but the sky was still pink and orange. The heat from the day had mostly evaporated and there were cool spots pooling under trees. My head and my body were working as one. My form was flawless. Breathing wasn't labored at all. It felt so natural, like I could keep doing this for the rest of my life and never get tired. Even as I felt every stride through my shins and calves, it felt good, I actually enjoyed the sensation as it meant I was running and alive. No headphones, minimal shoes, little training over three miles. None of it mattered. I had no deadline, no pressure, no reason to run other than I wanted to. I smiled at people I passed, said "hello." Every time I approached a turn that would take me back home, I kept going, knowing that it was only making the return longer. Everything was perfect. Euphoric almost. 5.56 miles later, and some severe chaffing, I returned back to my driveway. It was one of those feelings that to continue running would feel better, and be easier, than to stop. It was amazing.

If I tried to recreate it tonight, it may only turn into a couple horrible, agonizing, winded miles. But last night will have made it all worth it. Runs like last night keep me going, keep me hopeful, keep me optimistic. Last night, I will not soon forget.