Rural Escapades

Running in the woods feels amazing. Not in a park. Not on a path next to a river or a lake bordering a highway, but in the actual woods. No smog, no bus sounds, no creepy strangers, just creepy neighbors. Okay that's not fair, my neighbors aren't creepy (anymore).

So much better than running on the road. No cars and the dirt actually gives a little bit, unlike pavement. It's that non-choreographed relationship with nature that feels great. Parks don't do it justice.

The tics, mosquitoes, mud, rain and broken branches? Obstacles and necessary evils. Maybe. Are tics really necessary?

Old friends. Old friends are amazing. You know who you are. You can tell them everything, thinking it's everything, and they fill in the blanks.

Running with an old friend, thinking of a montage of the runs that came before and laughing as I struggle to keep up. Sometimes it's me. Sometimes it's her. This time it's me. Why doesn't running shape last forever? I guess that would defeat the purpose of actually having to keep up a practice and run.

Homemade pies, home cooking, neighborhood woods and staying home with a book. It's good to be back in New England.