i love my body...

this isn't a tmfi-selflove post, don't worry. totally "g"rated stuff here. well, okay. maybe "pg" but only because of the possibility for adult language.

i added another ten pound plate to the rucksack tonight. i was running really late, and it was about 10:30pm before i found a clean pair of dcu trousers, got my boots on, got the music keyed up, etc... because of the time i thought i'd only do 2 miles or so. to make up for the shorter distance i figured i would drop another plate in. so i set off with 60-65lbs. it killed me at first. i was wobbling like a drunk. it felt like i couldn't bend my right knee, i couldn't get a full stride, the shin splints started kicking, the works. after about a mile and a half i was seriously debating with myself whether to kill it at 2 miles, or try and force myself to do a third. huffing like an old steam locomotive. then i started fiddling with my earphones. pushed them in all the way. got the bass to resonate in my skull. turned the music up to force my brain to shut off. "nearly lost you" by the screaming trees came on, followed by "good thing" by fine young cannibals and "plowed" by sponge.

my body took over. it's been doing this for over a decade. i stopped fighting myself. i straightend up under the load so i could start sucking in full, deep breaths. my arms started pumping and my legs followed suit. my right knee was still not giving me a full range of motion but everything else started compensating for it. before i knew it i was finishing my 5th mile and i was making decent time. really good time. light-fighter time. sure it's not a 3 day combat load of batteries, bullets, my share of the demo bag and my personal gear but it was okay.

i'm old. the body's got a lot of mileage on it. and alot of damage. but i'm not ready for a dirt-nap yet.