Run

So I just ran one lap around Ultra and St. Paul. I am drenching wet, the taste of the salinity of my sweat playing with my taste buds as it seeps across my eyebrows and in between my lips. It feels so good--so alive, even--to be perspiring this much, as if a long-repressed sense of determination in life has revived itself in me. I never thought that I would have the will power to actually pull my lazy ass off the bed at 6 o'clock in the morning for something not related to school or orgs, change into some decent active wear, tie my shoe laces, stretch and do jumping jacks for 15 minutes, go out our front door, and run. I have recently developed an avoidance to any physical activity that triggers my sweat glands and I am continually seeking confines with an air conditioner or electric fan that could take me away from this unbearable heat, but hey, I did it. After a year of not jogging, I jogged. Hooray hooray!

I do exercise here at home, though. Those YouTube Pilates and 8-minute abs workouts are actually very beneficial. Yet running is different; for me, it brings a certain high and satisfaction. Going out there, running with the wind (and the early morning cars and passers by), hearing your heartbeat banging in your chest and resounding in your ears, having perspiration reek off your skin, and being able to drag yourself into finishing that one stretch--it takes a whole different effort. Aside from that, it can boost and energize a person in an all different level. I missed feeling so physically powerful (even though I am honestly pretty weak) and in control.

I know I should do this more often. With med school just less than three weeks away, I should really prepare myself both mentally and physically. I hope tomorrow is another bright, sunny day to go out and jog again.