Running

Yesterday I went for perhaps the most beautiful run of my entire life. Second only to perhaps the run around ring road at this past year's UVic Undie Run which supports cancer research. That one was particularly meaningful for me as one of my closest friends had recently passed away from cancer and I dedicated my run and donation to her. It was really quite fitting as she lived life to the fullest- living by the motto: I can laugh at anything and I'm always smiling. Jill Vassalo was a huge inspiration to me, and I continue to try and live my life in a way that would make her proud.

It was the day before the Kool FM Oak Bay Half marathon and I had the crazy idea of entering it. I hadn't done any real training for it and it was completely spur of the moment when I got talking to the organizer of the Help Fill a Dream Foundation. I left the house at around 7pm and saw one or two people jogging as I headed down Oak Bay avenue. I stopped to talk one of the organizers who was running green duct tape across the road for the startline. The excitement grew and I felt like forrest gump as I skipped and jumped and laughed as I got into a good rythm. I ran through someones 4 front lawn sprinklers, feeling unstoppable. I raced down to Beach rd and took the scenic route down past some tropical looking houses along the coast. I breathed in the sweet ocean air and lush gardens as it threatned to start raining. I didnt care, the soft evening light and my own body heat was keeping me warm.

It very gradually turned into a downpour and I came to a great look out point where I paused to stretch and admire the wide open ocean. It was gorgeous. I touched the rough-cut stone like tag-you're-it and headed back home.

Go ahead and tell me its just an endorphin high- According to wikipedia 'They are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates during exercise, excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food, love and orgasm and they resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a feeling of well-being.' - But as I jogged up the hill, my vision was blurred by the rain, the slick reflective streets couldn't feel more like home.