What a sunrise

This morning started out a bit rocky. I had to share my bed with Julian who was up throughout the night asking me for some water. He refused to drink any of the pedialyte and he had last been sick around 6pm on Tuesday. So I am sure I got about 4.5 hours of sleep total and was up at 5:20am. I should be somewhat used to getting 5 hours of sleep or less since getting pregnant with Julian back in February 2004. However, within the last three months, my kids have actually been sleeping and running has really helped me sleep at night. I have been getting about 7+ hours of sleep lately and I am still trying to make up hours from the past 4 years. But, it was nice to wake up and watch the sun rise again this morning.

There is something about watching the sunrise in its blazing red glory that helps pump you up for a run. Or maybe it is the fact that I knew that this sunrise meant that I had to get in gear since the temperature was already in the mid 70's and the heat index was also in the high 70's. With the sun out it would only get more difficult to run my 5 miles. So I set off for my run and enjoyed the last of the cool morning dew.

I am very impressed with the amount of people out at 6am running, walking and biking. I guess I would have thought that since it was so early that many people would still be home in bed. I think I saw more people out this morning then when I run an hour or two later. It is also nice to be able to run the trail with other people who share some sort of goal. I like to think that the majority of people I see and recognize each morning will be joining me at the start of the Chicago Marathon. That we will all try to conquer our minds and body and run 26.2 miles together.

As I run, I am constantly being passed. I started to think, who are these people who pass me when I run. I know that I am not running my absolute hardest, especially on such a hot and humid morning as today, but some of these people are flying past me. There are different types of people passing me by. You have tall and slender men, sometimes in packs of two or more, built rock hard ab women who sport their midriff in a sports bra and short running shorts, and many cyclists with or without helmets. Some of these cyclists are completely decked out in bike race gear. I think many of them are in a race for their life every morning when they fly past people with no regard to the runners who are on the gravel shoulder. I wonder if the handful of them that show no regard to runners ever realize that they are doing exactly the same thing vehicles do to them by braising past them when they have plenty of room to actually go a little wide around the others. I think it gives them their morning rush for speed and danger when they don't share the trail. I am all about bike safety and see many cyclist who enjoy a fast and fun ride and also share the trail with others without putting lives at risk, so it is possible. Anyway, I digress, those are the ones that pass me by when I run. I am not upset that I am passed because when it comes to the marathon, it is all about endurance and not how fast I can accomplish it. Yes, I would like to be done sooner then later but I first and foremost, I want to finish.

As I came up to my condo after my five miles, I looked around and saw that the sun was now high above the horizon and the bus stops were filled with sleepy eyed people who have yet to finish their first cups of coffee. And I thought, "I am so glad that I got to watch the sun rise and wake up to such a magnificent sight of the lake and nature in all its beauty. Unfortunately for many of these people, they will be waking up, face to face with strangers on a packed bus." I am very fortunate and I thank God for it everyday.