I just ran 7 miles. It was … easy.

Of course, it was in the dark. An hour after sundown and I'm out there for an hour+ of activity. I'm always exercising in the dark. I guess I like it that way, because I've been doing it for years. Still, I do feel more vulnerable at times, and during those moments, I wish I had started earlier and tell myself I will do so in the future.

I'd meant to make breakfast this morning and then go, but we wound up having sex in the kitchen and then going out for pizza. Afterward we got coffee and drove to Lake Washington boulevard to mark the mileage I planned to run. But all that about took up the day and by the time I got home it was already darkening. So I just went to Green Lake, where the outer trail is lighted and near to traffic and homes and shops.

I stayed at a slow pace that seemed indefatigable and circled the lake twice and then some. A few cars populated the lot when I arrived and some people still walked or jogged on the trail. On my first pass, I saw many of them and also soccer games in progress on the adjacent fields. Spud Fish & Chips was packed and it exuded the tasty odor of deep-fried things. To me it always smells like donuts. On the second pass, I was alone on the trail and the diners had moved down the street to Starbucks. By the third pass, the soccer players had turned out the field lights and gone home, and the trail was full again, this time with lovers hugged tight in Sunday after-dinner strolls.

I feel all right. My knees hurt some at the end, from the impact—maybe I need new shoes?—and the left leg feels weak like it always does. Otherwise, all's well.

I told myself and no one else that if I ran 7 miles and felt OK that I would register for the Seattle Half Marathon. So I have been training and guarding my progress like a pregnancy. I've had so many stops and starts and recurrent pain these last two years. But it looks like it's going to stick, so I guess I'll sign up.