Running the 9 pm - 3 am and 3 am - 9 am shift seems to keep me more at a physical peak and sharpens my senses probably because of darkness, keenly aware of traffic passing and on the outlook for ruts, sharp objects and wild dogs. Running at this time makes me touch and hear and see as if for the first time.

The route from Moscow to Valdimir to, currently in Kazan, has been one straight shot where even though their has been foot pain and inconvenience, I, more than ever, realize the true mission for what it is, i.e. running to raise awareness of the many people who do not have access to safe drinking water and to raise funding that will provide projects to alleviate this problem.

Goodness and truth and beauty suddenly possess me in realizing what we are accomplishing. We are competent in our mission as global messengers. My teammates know sometimes I sing out and cry out foolish things because of a new vision. A vision to again make a difference, competently, selflessly, to escape the pettiness and triviality of watching t.v. news spouting all the evil in the world.

I have been switched to another team, the Green Team, and look forward to getting to know them better, form a new bond as I breakaway from familiarity, accepting that I will continue to run the early hour shift for another four days instead of rotating back to the sun time regular day shift. That is ok. Besides our mission, we are building character, accepting what comes without whining. We stay focused on why we are running and that is enough for me, for now. I am framed in starlight, the sky as high as heaven, my body returning to sweat and the peace that comes with it. Competent still!

Oh, what better place than running 10 miles or more to examine my life, or my conscience, or to say my prayers. In that time, every vice, every weakness, every shortcoming is seen and accepted.

Peace and blessings, daily