{36 reasons} Running Away

Remember my new shoes?
I gave them their first workout.

I love that Tricia wanted my first running experience to be in a beautiful place.

She took me to the OpenLands Lakeshore Preserve, which happens to be a total of 1.2 miles from my house. And I had no idea it was there. It was spectacular.

(In all fairness, this preserve area just opened in the last few years, I think. But still....have I been under a rock!?)

First we walked through a large ravine, and along the lake, until we came to the running trail. Including the walk out there and back, we covered about 3 miles.

A little pre-run photography

We walked some, we ran some.
I am planning to use an app to help me train (run-walk-run) but it was so great to have a friend out there who was patient and kind, who is a serious runner but didn't mind having me huff and puff alongside her.

Starting a new endeavor is hard. My legs hurt and when she talked about running UP the hills...I cringed but also imagined myself, someday, also running up those hills. Maybe it was just a beautiful day, maybe I have some kind of "runner's high"...but I'm already planning my next run. Even if I only go a little ways.

Blessed are You, O God, Ruler of the world, who created my body to move and function, who created beautiful places to see and feel and breathe, and who has brought me to this day.