Morning Run

For the past few weeks, I have been running every morning before I take care of the dogs. I usually wake up at 6:45 and head out down the dirt road. At this time of morning, the sun has not yet crept up over the opposite ridge line, so the valley is cold and quiet. As the sun begins to show, more blue birds fly above and chipmunks scamper across my path. I am barely ever disturbed by a car and, even then, they pass with a friendly wave. The dirt road underfoot is forgiving, although the many potholes require extra attention.
The only downfall is the unsufferable uphill climb. For the first mile, it is beautiful downhill; but as soon as I turn around, I have to climb several hundred feet in elevation.
I have never really enjoyed running, but this is a necessary addition to my life. Not only do I want to look good at my friend's upcoming wedding, but training will inevitably start in a few weeks. As soon as this hits, I will be running up and down hills to harness dogs and push the sled. If I can't keep up with the dogs, I'll be left in the dust. Hence, training for me has started in earnest. I'm hoping to possibly take the puppies out with me tomorrow morning. They're becoming more adventurous and are always curious about my morning jog. I wasn't responsible for the dogs today, so when I came back, they were waiting for me about halfway down the driveway. All five, lined up across the path, with tails wagging and tongues rolling out of their mouths. I was just as excited to see them as they were to see me.
The morning run also gives me an opportunity to enjoy my surroundings. I am constantly amazed at the beauty of my little valley. The sage brush dots the red hills and Mt. Sopris continues to dominate the skyline. At one point this morning, I was actually listening to 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole when several bluebirds flew right in front of me. Having the sun rise over the hills while blue birds fly overhead and the dirt crunches underfoot is an invigorating start to the morning.