Owning it (the 50% mark)...

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep? 6 feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you 'Cause there's a spark in you
You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shine Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh" As you shoot across the sky

These are the words I heard today streaming out of my ipod as I crossed the 500 mile mark in my quest to log 1000 miles this year.  The words reminded me that sometimes we set really lofty goals and we feel only moments from failure, that we may have lost direction somewhere along the way.  But baby I'm owning this one and shooting as far across the sky as I can go.  That's right, I am now more than half way there and less than half of the year behind me! 

This is what 500 looks like! Yes, I stopped to take a photo...

Today felt monumental.  Yeah, I know that there are still about 499.25 miles to go to really take down my goal, but man did 50% feel good.  I've never been great about keeping a log of my miles, but I'm fairly certain I've never laid down this many miles in a half year in my past.  There were days I didn't feel like running, but the call to reach for my goals was too great.  There were rainy days, but achievement had a greater pull.  And there were days when there wasn't enough time to breath, let alone run, but carving out time kept me going.  I'm keeping my eyes on the prize and I feel fantastic about it!  If you've got a goal, stick with it, you'll feel so amazing in the end and along the way!

So, what was the run really like?  Well I don't remember a whole lot about the route, or the people I passed (well there was that accident on Maryland Avenue that shut down several blocks for the police activity), or even the temperature, but I do remember feeling light enough to dance into the air and happy enough to sing at the top of my lungs (don't worry, I spared Washington that joyful encounter).

As I started, so I shall finish.  Just after Katy Perry bounced me across that momentous mark, I was struck by words from the next song that came through my earphones (...someone must have stacked the playlist for today).  While taken slightly out of context, all that I care about is the strength I felt and the absolute connection to "I am bulletproof, nothing to lose....I am titanium."  Here's to holding onto that feeling for the next 500 miles!  Happy trails!!!

Stats -
Miles:  3.54
Time:   29:14 (average pace of 8:15 per mile)
Location:  Capitol Hill, Lincoln Park, Stanton Park
Feeling:  HELL YEAH!!!