I think I could do this for a living!

So tonight, after a decadent sushi supper (Edamame, Veggie Tempura, and Sashimi to share and then a Deep Fried Scallop Roll that changed by life), Sophie, Chelsea and I went over to my place for a run. They were looking forward to a nice and slow work out, and I was... well... nervous to be running with two people that were so much faster than me. Once we got to my place, we were all a bit tired an unmotivated, the deep fried goodness we just finished eating didn't help. Plus, Sophie was jetlagged, Chelsea had a crossword, and I was/am lazy... But I put on motivating music anyways, got ready (Sophie was very understanding of my construction worker's vest), and off we went!

Since I'm the slowest, I got to set the pace, with Chelsea and Sophie following close behind. Now picture this: I was wearing that vest, baggy pants, a huge sweatshirt, and my trusty headband... whereas Chelsea and Sophie were wearing matching professional looking black pants and high-tech black vests, and as Sophie pointed out during the run, looked like my bodyguards! It was like I was some sort of eccentric celebrity, and they were my loyal companions, which was a fun image, and it kept me upbeat even as they sprinted ahead once in a while in order to not get cold... And I have to admit, that when we were running up that last hill before getting home, and I was ready for my cool down, and they decided raced up the hill, I was impressed! I'm definitely not at their level yet. Still, I'm pleased to report progress, I was able to run our "longer" circuit, without walking (well except for that half a block, in a moment of weakness)!!! And perhaps more importantly, I experienced a runner's high:

There's this simply lovely moment in the middle of a run in which everything seems clear. I'm not too out of breath, I don't have a stitch in my side, my legs aren't tired yet, and I'm not too hot or too cold. My body feels warm and great, my cheeks feel flushed, my breath feels strong and deep, and my mind is so clear. It's incredible! It feels like a high, and for those few moments, I feel like I can do anything. Of course, I'm still running and so I don't really have enough breath to try to share this with Chelsea and Sophie, so all I verbalized was "I think I could do this for a living!" Having run with me before, Chelsea knew this was just a passing inclination, and reassured Sophie that I would go back to complaining in 5 minutes... and sure enough 3 blocks later (which apparently is a lot less than 5 minutes), my left calf started to hurt and I lost my high. But still, I love the feeling, and I'm hoping that with practice I will be able to hold on to it for longer!!!