Bug eating season….

Spring must really be here.

You never know in Ohio. We usually have a few false starts.

But, today when I ran, I had the feeling that spring might be getting closer. I’m cautiously optimistic, since exactly one week ago, I was being snowed on while I ran. No joke. It was April Fool’s Day, and the irony wasn’t lost on me.

Today, I wanted to get an early start. I’ve not been feeling well for the past week or so, so I missed my long run over the weekend. I had been hoping that I’d be able to make it up sometime this week, since Dan and I have a race coming up.

Yes, a real, in-person, trail race. And I can’t wait.

But, I digress.

I got all of the kids on the bus this morning before 7 am, and got my vest ready. I had no real expectations, I just wanted some time on my feet.

I headed to my favorite haunt, and just started running. I noticed all of the bright, new, green leaves popping up everywhere. This made my heart smile.

The next thing I noticed was the humid, warm air that was wafting up onto my legs from the trail. It’s been pretty warm the past couple of days, and I could smell the dirt and mud as I ran along the river. It was fantastic. There’s something about the smell of the earth that makes me feel so alive.

As I continued to run along the water, I had what a hobbit might call “second breakfast” as I began to eat the tiny bugs that always seem to find their way into our noses, eyes, and mouths on the trail. Rather than fight it, I just washed them down with some water. What else am I going to do? If I start hacking and spitting, people will think I have the plague and I will be banned from the trail forever.

I cut up onto the first hill and started to encounter the first of many spiderwebs across my face. Then, and only then, did I fully embrace the fact that it might truly be spring.

This run did not disappoint. By the time I had finished, I had watched the sun rise, got sprinkled on a little, ate a few bugs, and cleared the webs on the path for the next runner.

It was a good day.

Run happy.

Run long.