SugarHouse.

The first time I ran 6 miles (other than the '90's) was late February 2010.  It was the kind of cold flasks of whisky were made for.  I was wearing running pants that doubled as painting pants that I'd had since 2002.  Consequently, they were covered in spatters of my yellow kitchen from my first apartment in the city, blue from the 2nd bedroom in my first house and green from my 3rd bedroom in my second house.  That first 6 miles was the unexpected product of my first runner's high.  Unplanned, brilliant and fierce, I literally circled Rittenhouse Square Park until I hit an even 6.25, stopped, looked around, jumped up and punched the air, "Yes!"  An older couple, holding hands, walking toward me looked once at my paint-covered pants and red vest, back at each other and then once more at me, understanding, I still believe, that they'd witnessed true greatness. 

The 2nd first time I ran 6 miles happened Sunday.  It was a block mid-way through my training program that caught my eye months ago.  And so "6 Miles" loomed over me like a ghost, ever-present, slightly threatening and ever so chilling.  The morning was sunny, wind-free and crisp the way Fall days settle as opposed to the way Winter days fall.  I extended my usual route from Catharine Street down Front Street to Callowhill and through to Columbus Blvd.  This is where I stopped recognizing street names, buildings grew larger and more run down, sidewalks were torn and quiet for 11AM and, all at once, what I heard was just my footsteps falling in line with my breathing alongside the emptiness the low tide left on the Delaware River. 

My halfway point appeared out of nowhere, just beyond the worn down emptiness of the shelled-out buildings and the sidewalks.  Sugarhouse.  A manicured casino is exactly 3 miles from the beginning of all of my South Philly runs.  Who knew?  Turning on my heel, 3 hard miles after the first 3 ended, 6 miles was mine again.  Back through all of the familiar neighborhoods, my mind didn't leave my new stretch of broken pavement.  Back from beyond where I thought I could go, 6 miles was tamed and I realized in that moment that I wouldn't soon lose it again.