Long Run Equals No Fun

This isn't entirely true. It is fun... fun to see the beauty of Nature in winter and to explore new paths, to be trailblazers if you will (true, the trail is a man-made bike path, but who cares? I say we're trailblazers!). Although, the fun takes a dramatic leap to the back burner around mile 3 when it's quickly replaced with pain and struggle.
My training partner and I ventured out for a 7-mile jaunt this morning and I was sure I was never to return. I was willing to be left to the coyotes in the Mattapoisett/Fairhaven marsh land. Low and behold, we made it (he could've kept going, I put the kabosh on that idea). At the end of every long run, however, I'm reminded of why I put myself through this. It's rewarding to push yourself. It's rewarding to feel exhausted. It's rewarding to feel sore muscles. Most importantly, it's going to be rewarding to cross that 1/2 marathon finish line in March (fingers crossed!).
We stopped with a mile to go to admire the view across the Mattapoisett Harbor. Today was the ideal weather to see the Cape. Absolutely beautiful and honestly fun.

Photo courtesy of John Vaughn.