I Accidentally Ran a 10k This Morning — Common Vandal by Zach Horvath

Before lacing up my shoes, I had one early morning task to complete: finalizing an important LIVE A GREAT STORY email blast.

A very important one: FREE STICKERS

Here’s an excerpt from the email:

It's up to you to be a helper. It's up to you to be a shining light, a helping hand and a source of inspiration.
I'd like to help you do that, the best way I know how: a free Inspiration Sticker Pack with 16 stickers
Use code "FreeStickers" to get your free stickers, just cover shipping.
- Pass them out
- Mail them to friends with a handwritten note
- Stick them up around your city
- Leave them hidden for others to find
But whatever you do, don't hold on to them.
LIVE A GREAT STORY stickers are powerful and the world needs this message right now.

But then I got a call from my girlfriend and it wasn’t a good one haha she’s not too excited about me “Opening up for Business” and thinks it’s risky and just plain stupid.

I posted that article because I wanted to share my thoughts on it.

How do you feel about going back out into the world?

Anyway, I fine-tuned the email, tried to talk with her about my choice to enjoy the outside and do summer activities with my friends…

And then I laced up my shoes.

Well, I don’t actually lace them up. I just slide into them.

I never quite know how far or long I’m going to run until I start.

I don’t time myself. I don’t have a set path. I just kind of set out and let the road guide me.

But this morning I was headed towards Longhorn Dam because my friend Charles messaged me on Insta letting me know he’d be flying his drone in that area.

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It was a bit further than I would usually run, about 1.6 miles from my house, and I wasn’t sure if I would actually end up making it over there.

I didn’t even start in that direction, going left instead of right.

But I soon changed my mind and redirected south-east.

I was feeling good, no music, thoughts running through my head, breathing sticky air and starting to sweat.

I made it across the dam, looking around the parking lot by the baseball fields, but I didn’t see Charles.

Shrug. Probably should have asked for more clarity about exactly where he was going to be… or brought my phone. Oh well.

But at this point, I had a decision to make.

I could turn around and head back home, completing the 3.2-ish mile run… or I could keep going allllllllll the way around the other side of Lady Bird Lake for a "I have no clue how long that will be” run.

“Screw it, I’ll keep going.”

This longer route is more scenic, weaving along the southside of Lady Bird Lake, even hopping out onto the boardwalk giving amazing views of downtown.

I kept going, running, thinking, sweating more and more, observing the stickers on the poles, runners and walkers and that one woman peacefully sitting on a bench looking out into distance probably meditating.

“This is going to be a great drone shot for today’s post” definitely crossed my mind as I evaluated the direction of the sun, the angle of the city and considered which time of day would be best.

I soon diverted off the main path up and across the I-35 bridge, back to the north side of the river, cutting through a new construction project that’s probably more condos or apartments, before popping out into the Holly neighborhood, one of my favorites.

So many cool new modern houses tucked in between lots of old ones with rod iron fences, massive trees and unique decorations.

I’d run this route before, straight down Chicon all the way to Festival beach, so I knew I had about a mile and a half to go.

The need-to-go to the bathroom situation is often a factor in my morning runs, as was the case today, so my side was starting to cramp.

Weaving through the streets, I was heading straight north, hardly passing anyone.

Thoughts running through my mind. Blog post ideas, video concepts, marketing schemes for my upcoming project, kickback from yesterday’s post, relationship considerations and more, all buzzing in and out of my swiftly evolving thoughts.

“Almost home, just up the Chicon hill and I’m back. I wonder how far this has been?”

I had no idea.

Rounding the corner down the alley, I finished all the way to my door, punched in the keycode and immediately checked the time: 8:42. From there I checked what time I hung up with my girlfriend: 7:40

Just over an hour.