Allison Jones and her running companion By Allison Jones
SO MY best friend asked me why I run … here it is.
Every day when I wake up my very first thought … is it a running day? Is it light yet? If it is a running day I am straight out of bed. Dressed. Looking outside. Waiting for the first crack of light. The dog watching my every move, wondering if he can come too.
I lace up my shoes on the verandah. Freezing. Yet excited about the run. I hate the darl. Always hoping for some light. Walk up the driveway. Turn on my watch, wait for GPS. Hear the dog breathing, watching for the moment I break into a run. I talk to Pocket, can barely see him.
SO MY best friend asked me why I run … here it is.
Every day when I wake up my very first thought … is it a running day? Is it light yet? If it is a running day I am straight out of bed. Dressed. Looking outside. Waiting for the first crack of light. The dog watching my every move, wondering if he can come too.
I lace up my shoes on the verandah. Freezing. Yet excited about the run. I hate the darl. Always hoping for some light. Walk up the driveway. Turn on my watch, wait for GPS. Hear the dog breathing, watching for the moment I break into a run. I talk to Pocket, can barely see him.
End of the driveway, at the white post, I hit start. Watch vibrates, my heart sings. Every single time. First 300 metres is in forest. So dark. I hate dark. I mostly forget to breathe. I hear wildlife, kangaroos thudding away from me.
350 metres up the road, it is lighter, less trees. I gasp for breath. I feel my legs. I feel my whole body.
I hear the dog running next to me. And we are off. Running past my folks, up the small hill. Running. Just feeling my body. I can hear my breathing. I run and every 1k my watch buzzes and I look at it fleetingly. Then I just run again. I turn right and head up and up. I can smell the forest. I pass no one. No cars. Just me and the dog. At 3k I turn around. Dawn is approaching. I can see my breath now, it is that cold. It makes me smile.
I head back. Laughing quietly if the dog is breathing louder than me. 1k to go, I always speed up. Love my last km. Gotta go faster.
Almost light now, I can see the beauty everywhere I look. I can hear kookaburras and my breathing. 200m to go. Time to sprint to my driveway. Dog loves it. He is almost smiling as I run as fast as I can. His ears are flying. Boom. Hit my watch to stop. Lean over. Can’t breathe. Smiling my head off.
Two mins meditation at the end of the drive. Something I learned in Thailand. It ends with wishing my enemies nothing but good. The forgiveness in it makes me think of you and smile every single time.
Feel bullet proof and walk back to the house. Ready to start the day.
That my bff is what running is to me. Even typing this has made me happy.
350 metres up the road, it is lighter, less trees. I gasp for breath. I feel my legs. I feel my whole body.
I hear the dog running next to me. And we are off. Running past my folks, up the small hill. Running. Just feeling my body. I can hear my breathing. I run and every 1k my watch buzzes and I look at it fleetingly. Then I just run again. I turn right and head up and up. I can smell the forest. I pass no one. No cars. Just me and the dog. At 3k I turn around. Dawn is approaching. I can see my breath now, it is that cold. It makes me smile.
I head back. Laughing quietly if the dog is breathing louder than me. 1k to go, I always speed up. Love my last km. Gotta go faster.
Almost light now, I can see the beauty everywhere I look. I can hear kookaburras and my breathing. 200m to go. Time to sprint to my driveway. Dog loves it. He is almost smiling as I run as fast as I can. His ears are flying. Boom. Hit my watch to stop. Lean over. Can’t breathe. Smiling my head off.
Two mins meditation at the end of the drive. Something I learned in Thailand. It ends with wishing my enemies nothing but good. The forgiveness in it makes me think of you and smile every single time.
Feel bullet proof and walk back to the house. Ready to start the day.
That my bff is what running is to me. Even typing this has made me happy.