What a day. It started out beautiful. Drove to the rail trail with a 14 mile run on my mind. My daughter was running her 1st 5K today with friends so I told her to call me when she was done, so I wanted to carry my phone which is unusual. I wore the wrong clothes for that. All I had is one tiny pocket that I usually squeeze my keys and GU in. So I had to improvise. The GU went in my bra, the phone in my tiny pocket, and I decided to hide the keys outside of the car. Bad idea. I started to put my keys on the back tire when I heard someone coming so I decided to drop them behind the tire, they never hit the ground. I reached behind the tire and could not find them, they seem to have dropped into the abyss. I spent 5 minutes reaching behind the tire, feeling all the parts behind there and reaching into greasy crevices. I had to empty my pockets and bra so I could crawl under the back of my car and look for the keys (did I mention I didn't have my glasses). No luck. By this time I'm up to my elbows in grease, just shaking my head in disbelief, and giggling at my own stupidity. I found a little stick and said a little prayer and started fishing behind the tire with the stick and finally found the keys. Time to repack the bra, the tiny pocket, and hide the keys more carefully (Luckily I wore black shorts and could use those to wipe of the grease). The rail trail was peaceful and beautiful as ever. Leaves were falling all around and I often tried to catch one to no avail. I felt good about my pace and form and thought maybe I could go 16 today...until...mile 12. My mind started messing with me. I was thinking things like "you are only on mile 12 and your tired. That's not even half of the full marathon". Then my other voice would come in..."so what, atleast you're out here. You have a lot going on in your life so just be happy with what you can do today". Its was then that a gust of wind blew and leaves swirled around me. I didn't have enough energy to reach for a leaf so I just opened my hand when the stem of a leaf gently slid between my fingers and the leaf landed in my palm. "MY LUCKY LEAF!" I can do anything with a "Lucky Leaf"...and I did. I finished my 14 feeling great! | 