1968 Was Also a Leap Year

I seem to have lost my writing voice. I realized it was missing the other day as I walked home from running a timed mile at the high school track. I can't tell you the last time I ran a mile. A solid mile. Not the run, walk, run, walk kind of mile I've been running since high school, but a constant run, no stopping until I'm done, I am a strong and capable woman kind of mile. A nose running, ears burning, heavy breathing, slightly drooling kind of mile.

My mind was noticeably quiet on the walk home, and it occurred to me that my mind has been quiet for a while now. My thoughts used to take shape in the form of words, sentences, paragraphs, blog posts, but not anymore. Or at least not right now. The running didn't quiet my thoughts, but rather my quiet thoughts allowed me to run.

The old me would have considered all the other things I could have done besides running a mile. The old me would have considered stopping after two laps and multiplying my time by two to determine my speed. The old me would have wondered why it was so important to time my mile anyways.

The new me laces up my shoes, fills up my water bottle, pushes start on my stopwatch, and runs. The new me looks forward to doing it again and again, shaving seconds, maybe even minutes off my mile. The new me enjoys this quiet mind, this active body.

The old me would have thought of a clever way to end this post, but the new me is at a loss for words and would rather go for a quiet run. What better way to spend this extra day than to run a mile in the rain. Happy Leap Day.

Edited to add: The rain let up and I shaved a minute off my mile.