I’ve been on hiatus for the past four weeks. I’m not sure if anyone noticed, but I’ve been gone. We went on vacation for a week and then I decided to take a week off of general stuff, which turned into two weeks and then three weeks. It was nice to take a break from the regular grind, and now I feel new and fresh. I almost considered abandoning the blog for good, but I really do enjoy writing and I think the discipline of writing three times a week is good for me.

This morning was also my first run in four weeks. Along with a general avoidance of “stuff” there was also an avoidance of getting up early and running. Last week I found myself looking forward to this week and feeling excited to get running again, so I think the absence might have done me some good.

I ran outside today for the second time since I stopped running while pregnant with Tyler and the change in scenery was pleasant. The treadmill offers privacy with no one watching my sweaty, largish self and distraction in getting to watch a TV show while exercising, but it really can’t beat the fresh air and vibe of being part of the world at wake-up. I watched the moon set and then the sun rise as I slowly made my way around Lake Harriet. A few people in shadow made way for more and more people as the horizon lightened. The quiet of dawn gave way to the hustle and bustle of a weekday morning and I got to be a part of it all.

Never mind that four weeks of not running left me barely able to make it around the lake at a light jog and when I returned home I felt physically exhausted. The run was great. Goodbye treadmill and hello world.