Aroma's Loop

Today my uncle, is doing the MS150 "Bike to the Breakwater." The race is up in Portland, Maine. The intention is to raise funds to benefit the Maine Chapter of the National MS Society. The Maine chapter provides programs and services to people living with Multiple Sclerosis in Maine. They support research to find a cause and cure for MS. Of course, our family spent the last week with us. We are conveniently located along the way. My uncle has done this race a number of times before. He is a randonneur. For him this distance is a mild ride. :-) (Imagine!) No matter how modest he might be about this, I'm taking the opportunity to wildly cheer him on anyway! Woo hoo! Whether he needs it or not! This weekend the Pan Mass Challenge is also taking place. Some of the riders pass right through Franklin in front of our place. That is always exciting to see and makes big news around here. I am wishing all the bicycle riders a good experience today as the cruise into Portland and Provincetown on these great charity rides. This morning, I take that inspiring positive energy still floating around out there and do my first "outside" run of the season in preparation for the Race for the Cure in Boston. Running outside is a lot harder than running in the gym. Weather and hills pose their own sets of challenges. New England pot holes can reach out and grab an unsuspecting ankle. The air this morning was just right -- a cool light breeze. I recently got my first pair of real running shoes. At 5 foot something, I'm small, with short non runnerly legs. None could be more surprised than I am to find out that I am a "Runner." Weird how that happens. I blame Baci. You know that ad about getting a faster dog? He runs for the fun of it, and he taught me how. :-) I did two loops this morning around what we call the "Aroma's loop." We named that after one of our local coffee shops. The run was a little over 3 miles. There are long gradually sloping hills alternating up and down. I ran the whole way. That was my goal for this run. I didn't time it. I just wanted to prove to myself only that I would be able to do it. Stuart thinks I had a good time. I don't know. I felt good. Once I've established that I can do it, it is easier for me to work on the time. This is an important milestone (literally) in the training for me this year. This year is different from last year, of course. Last year, Melissa was doing pretty well. She walked the whole way with us. This year, sadly, no. As I begin, I take a moment to focus on motivation. It continues to be a simple one that propels my feet up the long hill and around Aroma's Loop this morning with a light heart. I am wishing all families, including my own, all the best. I add my own little bit of positive energy to the day and run. If you were out there too, I say, "good going!" Consider your back patted in hearty congratulations!