Down Time

The clutter on my desk is phenomenal. Literally mountains of research books, papers, and all-around junk. Sitting down in the chair to write is like an invitation to chaos. And yet I find it completely soothing. The messy desk is a sign of being mid-project, so focused on the work that the external world doesn't matter so much. When I'm done with the new book the desk will get clean. But for now it's all good. 

I mention that because the trails are a muddy quagmire right now. The first real weather of January has finally hit, overflowing the creeks and turning the act of running in the canyon into some more akin to slipping and sliding through the canyon, with the occassional moment of sucking mud that brings all forward progress to a halt. I have to admit that there's not much point to running down there right now. But I go there anyway. Tried to run the paved bike path on Saturday but actually found it a little overwhelming. Running on pavement means not being able to mentally check out, and that's one of the reasons I run. So the trails, which are the landscape equalivalent of my desk right now, are still the route of choice. I see the occassional shoe print or mountain bike tire print, telling me that the same holds true for others. Sometimes its not how fast or how far you run that matters most, but whether or not it elevates your mental health. 

Keep Pushing... Always