Laugher is the Best Medicine

In my passion over my shoe dilemma, I neglected to blog about the rest of my weekend. My "long run" yesterday consisted of an hour and 45 mins on the AT and 4 miles on the treadmill. The running portion of it didn't go quite as well as I had hoped it would, but it didn't go as badly as it could have, either. I managed to increase the ratio of run/walk to more running than walking, and I did a full half hour before I stopped to walk for a couple of minutes. No pain, a little tightness/twinginess, but less than I had experienced earlier in the week. I was hoping to do 6 miles, but when I reached 4 I had run out of water, so I paused the machine and hobbled my blistered toes (blisters on blisters on blisters this week from the AT) over to the water fountain for a refill. After stopping, my legs made it clear they didn't want to start again, so I didn't even try. That's OK though, because the bigger piece of news is - I've finally made peace with my injury.

Last night a group of the usual suspects had an impromptu gathering in Davis Square for drinks. I've been on somewhat of a social hiatus this past month for a variety of reasons, one of which is not to inflict my Debbie Downer attitude on those I love most, but on this occasion I couldn't say no. And the funny thing was, as much as I'd been trying all this time to shelter my friends from the worst of me, I showed up to be reminded that they bring out the best in me. Within moments of being there, it was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders and I found myself smiling, laughing and actually being optimistic and positive about my race - not faking all these emotions like I have been for some time now. And my legs didn't hurt at all the entire night, even after walking to catch a cab in heels. Spending time with Shifter, Laurie, Matt & Lauren, Gordon & Peg, Mary Ann and Martin always feels like being wrapped in a huge hug. They're good people, and their warmth envelopes those around them. It's as though the happiness they bring me actually healed what ailed me.