9 Days

It’s been nine days since I’ve hit the trails.  For nine days, trails were the furthest thing from my mind.  I told everyone I was recovering, when actually, I was kind of sulking.  I didn’t stretch.  I didn’t roll.  I didn’t cross-train.  I knew that I would run trails again.  I just needed time.  I needed to take inventory.  I needed nine days. 

This morning, it was time.  I set out for my “short” run to Top of the World in Laguna Beach.  I felt better than I thought that I would.  But then, my calves screamed with pain as I ran up that first steep climb, Cholla Trail.  I stopped once to stretch my calves.  I focused on loosening up for the rest of the climb.  When I reached West Ridge, I took several minutes to stretch out my calves once again.

The remainder of my run was tranquil.  Most of the time I sunk into nothingness – just running trails, and nothing more.  That’s the best.