5 miles, a kind of milestone distance. 5 miles means that I've gone more than 40 minutes and 40 minutes is the beginning of that twenty minutes sweet spot. That time when the body and mind finally agree that this is a worthwhile activity and reward me with an infusion of endorphins.
At least that is what usually happens. Today, with this being the first journey into that realm, it was an exploratory journey. It has been a long time since 5 miles showed up on my Garmin. The number is not foreign to me but it has been a distant goal.
5 miles, it brings with it the high of endorphins, but you must also earn the privilege of being there. Today was the badge earned, not the reward. Today was weeks of build up, cautious not to over tax and injure. Today was not the reward, but the accomplishment.
5 miles, what once was a standard run has become the goal. I'm not saddened by that. I'm encouraged because there was a time, not too far in the past, that 500 meters was the challenge. 5 miles, a distance that would carry me from my home town to the next one. 5 miles, hell yes!
