Stanley in the Morning

I rose at 4:40 this morning. Why? you ask. To strap on my runners and make my way to Stanley Park early enough that I could have the park to myself. The seawall is absolutely packed during the day - cyclists, rollerbladers, runners and walkers all do their best to avoid collisions in the narrow path. But I didn't want that sort of experience for my first 10k. I wanted solitude. I wanted privacy. Only me and the sound of my (admittedly ragged) footfalls.

The experience was better than I imagined. It turns out the park is just as busy in the early morning as it is in the afternoon. I shared my run with squirrels, crows, seagulls, geese, and groups of racoons plodding along the trail as if it was made for them. And the sights! The sky looked like it had been finger painted by a child. Streaks of pink and yellow and eventually blue illuminated the east. The water was calm and speckled with ducks sending ripples out.

Everywhere I looked it was beautiful. I felt so alive and grateful. Grateful for my body that is able to take me places I want to go; grateful for the breathtaking natural and constructed beauty of Vancouver; grateful that I have found this passion for running that allows me to experience these moments.

And my first 10k run! I was dripping sweat by the end and staggered a bit up the hills but otherwise I felt strong. I can't wait to build my speed and endurance up. I can't wait to keep using my body in this rad way.