I am a runner!! ..I had forgotten that feeling until this morning when my alarm clock
alarm jolted me out of my dreams and into reality. I crept out of bed in the predawn.
It has been some time since Ihad this desire, but I feel it in my belly again and I am grateful I got up.  I am arunner!!  I missed the sights and sounds and smells of the Prairie Path that courses through the Western suburbs of Chicago, my "stomping grounds" if you will.

Calling it 'early' is being kind to the term 'middle of the night' (4:30 a.m.) but by the time I am out there I have no regrets realizing this is the best way for me to start my day. Everything lies ahead of me both literally and figuratively as I grab a quick gulp of water and tiptoe out the kitchen door. No one can stop me today! I feel a unique rush of anticipation in the fresh morning air, the gravel of the trail crunching beneath each step, the first drop of sweat rolling down my temple!!
I am a runner!!  For that I will always be grateful!!
 

I am already calculating about how many weeks  are left until the Chicago Marathon which I've completed  numerous times. Training schedules  and thoughts of 20 mile runs course through my brain. I am a runner! I realize i most likely won't have enough time to properly train for Chicago and the registration has already closed but, that doesn't stop me from thinking, "Maybe, could I???" Then I remember it's been weeks since my last run and today I'm tryoing to leg out a 5 miler. My quads will burn tomorrow but today I'm in love

with the run again!!! It doesn't take long!!  I am a runner!

I can't believe how much I've missed this!! I need  to do this to be a better father,husband,coach and co-worker.

I miss getting over to the running store to buy my Gu's and gels and
body glide  and getting my clothes laid out the night before to get
ready to do my 4:30am runs.  I am a runner!!   The smell of the new
shoes and the feel is one of the best in the world for these legs and
feet that have run 12 marathons, numerous half marathons and countless
10k's and 5ks.  I am a runner!!  Being on the email chains for early
morning runs from  the group for speedwork that you dread but know full
well these are the things we need to do if we want to get better.  I am
a runner!!    I am a runner!!     

  I have 3 "homes", the house  I  share with my family , the baseball diamond and of course where I run, the Illinois Prairie Path. I call each one "home" because I feel alive when I am in each one of those places. This morning on my early morning run which I have not done in months it was like an old friend and I got back together it was beautiful!! I missed the peace and serenity I get when I am there. It is home.  I am a runner!!  For those looking for an early morning run, I am back, I might not be able to keep pace with you all, but I am back and it feels great!!  I am a runner!!   Take care and I will see you out there!!   Steve.

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