I woke up late in the morning, about eight thirty, and went for a morning workout as usual. This time I did a speedy workout, running around the track field, with faster-than-race-pace on the straight lines, and jogged through the corners. I did ten laps of the fast-slow running, and jogged two other laps, having run 3 miles in total, that being said. I was quickly back to shape during these days when I was running, and I almost forgot how much I enjoyed running. I was always looking forward to practice back in cross country season, and even almost all of the workouts were exhausting, I still enjoyed every second of them. 

   That's why I was so excited to have read Born To Run, a bestselling book about a journalist's journey into the Tarahumara tribes in Mexico. Instead of running 3 miles a day, these ultrarunners could run several hundred miles incessantly. The writer was looking for the secret of their stamina, and it came out pretty simple: they loved running. That's all. 

   While a lot of people may claim that they love running, they actually don't. What they love is what running brings to them, instead of running itself. Healthier body, skinner legs, more sober mornings. I can't really say what type of people I am, but I definitely have things in common with the second type. I restarted running several days ago in Austin because I wanted to lose some extra body fat that I gained after the fall sports season ended. And after all burning calories has always been the goal; toned muscles too. But I also enjoy running itself, no matter how hard the workout is. Uphill, downhill, flats, race pace, jogging. As long as I am running, I feel happy because I don't have to think about anything else. All I can hear is my own breaths, and all I'm thinking about is making the next step. It is all every simple, but all very complicated to some people in another way. 

   I really do hope I get to keep the habit of running even if I have to get back to school. Right now I wake up around eight thirty, and run for almost an hour. But school starts at eight thirty, and I also need to get a shower, dress up, and have breakfast, sometimes printout my homework, before going to class, which means that I'll have to get up about six thirty everyday. I am still moaning about having to get up at about seven thirty; I have no idea how I can put myself to bed before eleven and get out of bed and go running before six thirty. I'll try my best though, because running is definitely very very rewarding, and I can not think of a single reason why I shouldn't do it. 

   Now I'm getting one last real Chinese meal before my mom and I head to the cinema and watch The Perks of Being A Wallflower. I hope it's going to be good. 

   I'll try to write something down tomorrow, as my mom tells me to do. She says that the boarding school experience is worth even single hard printed word. And I do agree with her. 

   Stay tuned!