After working this weekend, it was time for a well deserved day off for me today. Slept long last night. Walked Yuki in the morning with parts of the pedestrian walkway and the grass in the park still wet from 2 days of rain. Did some catch up reading of newspapers from the home country and then had a $15 haircut. After a hearty lunch of sinigang na baka with white rice, went to play chess on the internet. Won more than half of my games. By around 1, was tired playing and felt sleepy. Went upstairs for a nap with Yuki following me. Woke up at 5 with Yuki still snuggled beside me. An ideal day except for one more thing lacking. A run.
As I laced up my running shoes Yuki was looking at me pleading to take her, but not this time . The weather was perfect for running, around 16 degrees, breezy, cool but comfortable. Just wore shorts, short sleeved shirt and carried as usual my camera and a plastic bottle of water.
A few steps from my place, some of the shrubs are starting to change color from green to red.
I passed by my favorite trail and found that most trees were bare of leaves and the pathways were just covered by dry leaves.
"Yellow" trees. Their leaves are green during late spring and summer but turn to yellow during fall before they finally fall off making these trees bare of leaves in late fall.
It was so quiet and peaceful running late afternoon in my neighborhood. So different from the noise, traffic, people in the streets of GSIs Village in Quezon City where I grew up. For the more than 5 kilometers I ran, was lucky to see more than a dozen people total walking the streets. 
Another part of my neighborhood. My walk break. Had to take a sip of water and snap some pictures. This time, I was sweating despite the cool breeze, but overall, felt good, relaxed, serene, happy. 
We can find beauty in the simplest of God's creations, like these reddish colored trees starting to shed off their leaves.
On solitary runs like this, I always feel a oneness with my surroundings, a closeness to the Creator, a peaceful feeling, living in the moment, forgetting about everything other than my being the center of the universe . I wonder if every runner experiences the same feelings on his solitary runs.
On the way back home, it was starting to get dark.
I could see the sun slowly setting in the horizon as I increased my pace in the last 2ks. I try to ran faster the last 2 kilometers of my training runs to simulate that of an actual race. I still don't know if it is a smart thing to do. All I know is I haven't been injured running slower during training and then faster the last few ks.
As I laced up my running shoes Yuki was looking at me pleading to take her, but not this time . The weather was perfect for running, around 16 degrees, breezy, cool but comfortable. Just wore shorts, short sleeved shirt and carried as usual my camera and a plastic bottle of water.
A few steps from my place, some of the shrubs are starting to change color from green to red.
I passed by my favorite trail and found that most trees were bare of leaves and the pathways were just covered by dry leaves.
"Yellow" trees. Their leaves are green during late spring and summer but turn to yellow during fall before they finally fall off making these trees bare of leaves in late fall.
It was so quiet and peaceful running late afternoon in my neighborhood. So different from the noise, traffic, people in the streets of GSIs Village in Quezon City where I grew up. For the more than 5 kilometers I ran, was lucky to see more than a dozen people total walking the streets.
Another part of my neighborhood. My walk break. Had to take a sip of water and snap some pictures. This time, I was sweating despite the cool breeze, but overall, felt good, relaxed, serene, happy.
We can find beauty in the simplest of God's creations, like these reddish colored trees starting to shed off their leaves.
I ran on a winding pathway close to a pond, I was all alone, it was so quiet all I could hear was my breathing and the sound of my shuffling feet.
On solitary runs like this, I always feel a oneness with my surroundings, a closeness to the Creator, a peaceful feeling, living in the moment, forgetting about everything other than my being the center of the universe . I wonder if every runner experiences the same feelings on his solitary runs.
On the way back home, it was starting to get dark.
I could see the sun slowly setting in the horizon as I increased my pace in the last 2ks. I try to ran faster the last 2 kilometers of my training runs to simulate that of an actual race. I still don't know if it is a smart thing to do. All I know is I haven't been injured running slower during training and then faster the last few ks.
Arrived home safe, sound and happy. Took a shower, took Yuki, my baby for her last walk of the day around the block.
I think I'm ready for a 7k run on Wednesday. :)
