“Wanna run?” Lin said.

“Yes!” I shouted as I took off running.

Lin called out from somewhere behind me that he was stopping. He was close enough to make it. By that time, I was already crossing the street. Still running, and I didn’t stop until I got to the truck. Running. Running and enjoying it.

I’d run about the distance of a block. Not far by any stretch of the imagination, but that was the furthest I had run in, well, probably years. A lot of years. As I was running, I noticed a few things.

It felt good. I wasn’t pushing myself at all, just casually running, and it felt so good! My legs were strong and sturdy underneath me. My footings were sound. When I finally stopped, my breathing was as slow and steady as it would have been had I strolled along at a snail’s pace. My heart was still beating out a steady calm rhythm. Even more importantly perhaps, nothing hurt. Not the back, the neck, the bum knee or ankle. Every single part of me felt vital, alive, and STRONG. I felt better during that one short jog than I have in weeks, maybe months. Possibly even years.

I don’t know how far I could run. How fast. At what point would it stop being fun and feeling good and start feeling awful. I think I’m curious to find out. I’d planned to start walking when the weather outside turned warm, but now I think I’d rather see just how much running ability might still be within me.

I used to run everywhere, before I was a smoker and spent too much of my day sitting. I used to love running, and I was good at it … fast and with an excellent reserve for endurance over distance. While I doubt I’ll ever be able to run as fast or as long as I did in my youth, I’m curious enough to give it a try, so this spring I’ll be buying me some good running shoes and RUNNING!

I can’t believe it myself. Me willingly running? But what I felt during that be short sprint down a city street felt better than any drug, and it sparked joyful memories in my body and mind. I have to see if I can recapture that sensation! LOL!