A Morning Jog

The air is crisp, my breath is coming out in little cloud bursts floating up to the sky and that peculiar fall smell fills my nostrils.  It is chilly and I am glad that I went back to get an extra sweater instead of just ignoring the cold and marching onwards.  I walk towards Beaubien and make my way to the park where I normally jog, wondering how well I will do considering that my muscles are all still pretty sore from Muay Thai, dancing all night and spinning (in that order).
There is no one in the expansive park this morning and so I am alone with my music, just the way I like it.  The gravel is hard and crunchy beneath my feet, the trees are beginning to lose their vitality as they prepare for winter and the sun is beginning to shine with all of its splendour.  What a gorgeous, but cold, morning!
I had told myself that I would walk at least one lap before jogging, but my feet, having recognized where they are, decide to start jogging right away.  They have a mind of their own, so I let them be, not worrying too much about how fast or slow I am going and I begin to listen more intently to the dance song playing in my ears.  Pretty soon I am going at a steady pace and as I take the first turn, I begin negotiating the number of laps that I think I will run;  I know for sure that I am capable of one because I had jogged a complete lap not too long ago.  But pretty soon, I have jogged that one lap, and my lungs have not collapsed and my feet are still moving me forwards.  What the Hell?  I guess another lap is called for!
At this point, I am feeling great, amazing and wonderful all at the same time and it seems like I could run forever.  The colours of the remaining leaves are vibrant, the sun is competing with them in brilliancy and the air is still biting, but pleasantly so.  I am still alone in the park and my music has helped me get into that zone that is so wonderful to be in when exercising;  no thoughts, just movement and the feeling of blood running and coursing through my body.  Breathing steady, arms pumping, legs striving forwards, feet gently and steadily hitting the ground. 
I have now completed my second lap and I still want more!  I push myself harder and decide to continue, but my body protests by feeling nauseous.  I decide to end my fabulous run by walking the rest of the way, trying not to be too disappointed that I only completed a half lap more. 
I gently remind myself that I already did more than I had expected and stop a moment to admire the beauty around me.  At that exact instant, as the sun is trying to warm my face despite the uncooperating cool air and my favorite jogging song by Infected Mushroom begins to blare in my ears, I am happy and grateful.  I am thankful for all of the events, situations and people that have helped me to become who I am on this Monday morning.  I am also especially appreciative of all the fabulous women that are a part of my life, either physically so far away from me, or right here in Montreal partying with me or trying to softly push me to do my school work. 
I am striving towards being a better person and this morning, on this splendid and invigorating day, I feel as though I have moved two and a half laps closer to that goal.  And, on this day of thanksgiving, I thank everyone who has helped me get to this point in my life, but perhaps more importantly, I am thanking myself for making the decisions I have made and for finally taking the time to care for myself.