The Sweet Spot

Whether I've crossed the finish line yet or not, I have won. I've had some rides and runs and swims that have been nearly magical. If you've never experienced it, it's not a physical experience solely. Someone else can have it when they paint or quilt or create somehow. Yet what makes it so perfect is that the physical part goes so well that you aren't distracted by it.
You aren't aware you're breathing hard, or that your back is tight, you aren't aware of that but only of the vibrant colors left of fall and the perfectly sweet air around you. There have been more moments like that in the last few weeks of training this year that I haven't had all year long. Running was about listening, straining to listen even to how my body was reacting and whether I was moving forward or pushing too hard.
There have been times when I've been on a ride against the wind, uphill, and in the rain that it was so unfriendly and unfun that even that brought laughter.
And through what I thought was heat and humidity that I enjoy running in, though I made it, it now seems to me I made it through that for what is happening right now; the ease of a run on a fall day when the air is cooler and a sweatshirt and capris are just right, when it's almost still because there's hardly a breeze but there's none needed because it's just perfect as it is.
I'm not a fall lover. It makes me sad at times. I'm a spring girl and a summer lover. It all has hope and ease and a lightness to it, not to mention hours more of daylight and so many more hours of outdoors. This fall though has been different; a gift. Last year too was beautiful right up until the race so training indoors was not so necessary had it at least not been for work! But I was distracted last year, too much on my plate and too focused on things and people out of my control.
I'm in a good place for this race. Its going to be a good day no matter what happens and yet I feel I already know that I'll finish and it isn't a question this year. I have to overcome the biggest obstacle which is staying up past my bedtime to finish it but I can sleep in on Monday, right?