running (snapshot)

It always hurts at the beginning, there has never been a day where feet and pavement meet and pain is absent. Pain is always there. I start off with an easy run, but the impact made on concrete from flesh and bone is anything but easy. I begin the solitary run up South 1st street, with baby steps I'm able to keep my body moving. Pain is absent only sparingly, occassionally my surroundings catch me off guard and I forget about the pain. Deep breaths, in through the nose, out through the mouth, open my eyes, drink in the intoxicating beauty. See the low hanging branches which signify the beginning, the KB home flags billowing black and yellow colors in the breeze, taunting you to come nearer. Smell the awful stench of sewer when I come over the bridge, picking up my pace to hurridly pass the zone. Listen to what nature has to say, hear the birds singing their early songs, the gurgling brook, the passing cars. Feel the wind in my hair, the drops of sweat falling from my face, cooling my hot body. Arms outstretched I pretend I'm flying on eagle's wings, swoop swoop. I don't care what the people inside their cars might think of me, whether my actions seem childish to them or not. It feels great to let myself go, flying forward. Spin around like a ballerina, stare up at the pure blue sky. I smile knowing life has been good to me. Twenty minutes have come and gone, I'm at the gas station and the 1.5 miles have passed me by, time to turn around and head back. It's always easier running back, I tend to pick up my pace just a little, knowing W. Charles Akins High School is waiting for me with a hot steamy shower in the girls locker room. COWS! Brown and black, big and small, they make me smile when I run past. To make running fun for me I wave at the cars coming my way. Most of the time they wave back, I make sure and give them plenty of wave time so I know who is just being plain rude when they ignore my hand waving wildly back and forth at them. I hope it makes them happy, because I know I'm happy when I run, and life is too short to be sad. WOOHOO! I see them KB flags now!

"You can do it Joanna, you've done it before, and you can do it again."

Yeah, that's right. These 3 miles are nothin'! Another WOOHOO! I see my low hanging branches, the bus stop is just out of sight, I take long gazelle like strides up the bridge. YES! I did it! I feel like raising my hands in victory, but I'm too tired by that time. So, I settle with stretching out my worn muscles and walking back to the locker room. Mmmmmm, that water feels good against my skin, I sigh contendly, washing away the sweat and nasties that cling to me. Short and sweet, I'm done in 15 minutes. Blow dry my hair with the hand driers, 'cuz I'm fly like that, and try and pull off looking cute for the day. It only works sometimes :), but I don't mind, I can't be perfectly gorgeous all the time. All I can be is me, and I'm happy with who that is.