long run

i never thought i'd see the day where my training run mileage for a single day was more than i used to run in an entire week. yesterday, i ran 40 miles. while i realize that to most people this may sound a) boring or b) crazy, i can only confirm the latter. but the thing is, the miles just fly by when you're out on the trails, even if you're feeling sub-par.

there was a group of about 10 of us that started off together at 4am. despite the early hour everyone was rather chatty. running in the dark on trails is a pretty neat experience. you realize very quickly whether you have a good headlamp or not (i was using my backup which i now know for sure i don't want to use for the race) and your ability to respond to unevenness in the trail seems better (or maybe we're just moving that much slower that we're more stable). occasionally the group of 3 that i was running with would spread out for a few minutes (you could see the others' lights but not hear the sound of their feet on the gravel). in those moments, you hear the trees and feel the air (not to mention the presence of monsters) so much more than normal. its a pretty cool experience.

while on the one hand, i would think that all the running and training of late would be making me less focused on work and life. somehow though, it is having the complete opposite effect. i feel like i have been more able to concentrate on things that matter and figuring out what i want to do when i'm done with school.

i am also reading a new book. as many of you may (or may not) know i have something of an obsession with religion. one of the guys on the leadville team just finished his master's in divinity at austin presybterian theological seminary. during a run one day i asked him what he was doing now, what kinds of positions he was looking for and we got into a discussion about various denominations. he recommend the book 'american jesus' by stephen prothero. its basically an essay (a long essay) on how americans have interpreted the person of jesus (as opposed to his role as christ or messiah) and how this interpretation has both impacted and been impacted by american culture. i had no idea that thomas jefferson had made a bible and was something of a theologian himself.

some of my housemates at the co-op have mentioned that one of the biggest surprises they had coming to the us was how religious it was. my response has always been, well, you're in texas. but this book is making me realize that my housemates are probably onto something and its bigger than texas. i guess i just don't notice as much because this (the us) is where i have been raised.

i'm excited for the week ahead. its my last week of class and then all i have to do is a take-home examine. i also get to (finally) start writing my dissertation proposal. i've been reading a lot and have an outline of sorts, but i'm now actually excited to write. its probably a good thing too as the summer is passing by so quickly! but for now, i'll just catch up on today's stage of le tour. oh the joys of having a tv with versus!