The blue hour
This is the time of year when there is light on the horizon even at 4:30 in the morning. A slight hint of blue creates a glow around homes still mostly dark with the exception perhaps a streetlight. A sliver of moon coupled with Venus (the "morning star") stayed in front of me like a vision from a science fiction story. Seven miles seems like a long way when running around a city, but considering the scale of Earth it is an tiny distance. Given the scale of the universe it is infinitesimally smaller.
I felt good this morning. I felt smooth and strong. Better than I've felt in weeks. The little pre/post race niggles that create slight tinges of tender soreness seem to have resolved. I turned off the odometer and just ran with the timer going. I could estimate how far I went from running these routes for the past few years, but payed closer attention to my direction and orientation to the dawn than my precise location.
East into the sunrise. West back toward home.
To watch the morning unfold is beautiful. The dawn is a gift.