Some of you may know that I’m a runner, although to be honest I’ve felt like a fraud the last year or so because with my injuries I wasn’t able to do much running at all. Well, I’m back and it feels wonderful. I switched shoes (for what I think is the 15th time) and more importantly, entirely switched up my running style. It’s been like learning to walk again.

I was a big heel striker with a long stride. Now, I’m landing mid-foot with a significantly shorter stride with a greater lean forward. If you’re not a runner this might be about as interesting as listening to paint dry, but for me it’s been nothing short of a life-changing experience. I can run again.

I certainly won’t go as far as to say it’s better than sex (it’s not, and ex-girlfriends are not allowed rebuttals!) but it’s an incredible release. I spend all day as an editor with a lot of the hours before and after taken up with writing novels (the latest tweaks to Ashes of a Black Frost are done and I’ve been seeing/hearing rumors there’s a new cover out there in the ether, but I don’t think it’s official yet so I’ll hold off posting an image) which means most of my time is spent in intellectual and creative pursuits. So it’s an amazing feeling when I can get out there and run and let my mind wander as my body takes over. And for the first time in a very, very long time, my body is cooperating.

Not sure how else to describe it except that it’s simply bliss.