Well. Today was the day I decided to get "back on the bicycle." so to speak. After five months off due to a knee injury and slowly working up to speed on the treadmill, I'm finally able to run without any pain or strain. Today was the first day running out side in a while. 3.3 miles was hard-I'm not going to lie. With time, though I know I'll fly a little easier. The hills of Pittsburgh certainly kicked me in the butt, but the freedom I felt was unexplainable. 

While I was running, I was trying to equate what I was feeling to a children's book (naturally.) And I was brought back to this book my parents read to me when I was a small child. I believe the title was "The Magical Bicycle." This little boy is trying so hard to ride his bike without training wheels and then one night, in his dreams, he does so. But what is most memorable about this book is the way in which the author expresses this idea of freedom through the written word. This idea of freedom in riding, freedom in the air blowing past your face and freedom in trying again. And again. Even when it hurts. 

So it has been five months since running, but I'm back on my magical bike again. I found it today. A little rusty, basket a bit broken and stuffed with past memories of races and knee injuries and summertime courses from last year. A few scratches and cricks and pain. But overall, though squeaky, I put a fresh new coat of baby blue paint on that bicycle today. Filled the air up in the tires.  With brand new handle bars and gears that run smoothly and even a silver bell to let my dreams ring free. 

There is nothing more beautiful than a run through the asphalt streets of Pittsburgh. And that magical bicycle deserves to ride. Ride in the direction of my dreams.