Oh Bree!

I am in love. Yes I will openly admit it. No longer can I hide it. I love to run and l love to run barefoot. I have been so down and out thinking that I had lost my love over the past few weeks. It has seemed like an eternity. Injured, hurt, and not knowing what to do. I was so pathetic in my mourning that I watched “The Barefoot Contessa” hoping to find my love, but was only able to drown my pain in a sea of boring dialog. How long would it be before I could put on my floppy hat and running shorts?

The day came; the pain subsided, could I strike out on run? Or would I be shut down with spike of pain? My dog “Pepper” lay on the floor, still depressed from the long absence of our daily running ritual. I put my shorts on, pulled my shirt on, and still no reaction from Mr. Pepper. But then I grabbed the floppy hat and put it on and He started going wild, uncontrollable gyrating his hips like he was at a Ricky Martin convention.

Cautiously I went out the front door, Pepper leading the way. Slow Slow Slow I reminded myself. I still wanted to favor the foot, not because of pain, but because of how I have been walking in light of the injury. Relax, Relax, I told myself. It was feeling good. My right Calf and Achilles was a bit tight, some gentle stretching. Good… it was feeling good so I continued to run. To the end of my street, turn around for another flyby my house just in case I needed to come in and stop. It was still feeling good… now past my house and out of the community gate. I was smoothly painlessly moving. I was back! I turned up an empty development and climbed up a small embankment and was now running on my favorite surface – dirt! Yes oh yes! I was a 10 year old kid running in circles. (Is a 40 year old supposed to say that?)

The sun had just risen in the east and I stopped to look at the great valley where I live. The magnificent beauty of it all — I was grateful for the incredible blessing that have been given to me. With these feelings I stopped on a little hill and practiced a bit of Yoga in the sun. With a huge joyful smile on my face and countenance I ran back home. Not wanting to overdue the incredible gift that was given back to me; of being able to run, to run barefoot, to connect with the healing of mother earth, and to feel the blessings of a generous Father in Heaven.

I stopped at about one mile. Oh I had definitely found that barefoot running state of euphoria (BRE) and I was going to take it on home for a rest until the next day.

See you all on the trail. What a great day.

Michael Carroll