Sweat was dripping into my eyes and burning from my makeup that was still left on since early in the morning. There was a pain in my right knee and I can’t stop counting the seconds and each 10th of a mile. My shorts are too big and I have to tighten the draw string over and over again. The basement is damp from the recent rain and my iPod is playing a song that’s just too slow. I feel dehydrated and exhausted and wonder what in the world I am doing running in the basement, (with the spiders) at 9:00 at night. And then…
My breathing slows down. The perfect song comes on and I no longer feel the pain in my knee. I look straight ahead instead of at my treadmill clock. I can feel the music in my muscles. I feel like I could run forever. My mind wanders onto other things. Good things. I feel light as a feather and better than I had all day. Next thing I know, I’ve run for 50 minutes and stop only because it’s so late.
At that moment, there is no place I would rather be. That is why I run. That is why I run at 9:00 at night in a dark, damp basement after working a 10 hour day.
I have heard of the “runner’s high”. I never believed it was real. Now I know there’s nothing better.












