Tuning out to tune in

So I did my long run today...12km!! Boy did it hurt by the end of it! I plotted out my run along the Waterfront Trail from Ajax to Pickering, figuring it would take me close to my half marathon distance...well when I got home and consulted my map I realized it was only 12km....ONLY!! I'm going to die...my calves will explode, and I'll pass out during my race. Ok, so I'm over-exaggerating a bit, but I really don't know what I've gotten myself into!

I don't know how I'll last 21km! But I'll keep running, and increasing my distance for another few weeks, then start to taper the distance to preserve myself for race day.

So I've always been the runner with music. Tape walkman, CD player, MP3 player and now my iPod. I love to hear my mix-tapes to keep me going on the trails or treadmill. But today was different. Today, I tuned out in order to tune in to nature. I was running along the Waterfront Trail, and it was so beautiful, I could hear the water crashing onto the beach, the birds, even the flies (and they were plentiful!)

It was great, my head was clear, I was thinking of tasks I need to get done, making plans for the week, and just enjoying my run (well, beyond the pain, I really was enjoying it!).

So I'm officially becoming unplugged for my outdoor runs. I think I'll still tune in at the gym (in order to tune out other peoples conversations), but I'll try to enjoy my surrounding, and appreciate where your feet can take you, once you start running.