The ipod letdown

Feeling good after yesterdays run, I figured I would run the same route but not as quick. My routine is to start my Nike+ on my ipod just out of the door of my building, so today as usual I fired it up and got on my way. The rain was just showering and it was 11C. I felt as good as I did yesterday but didn't indulge in pushing my effort beyond watching my stride and being easy and open. As I entered the park, I was really feeling good and the rain was starting to come down, so I made a deal with myself that I would push the last 3km and really move it towards home. I picked up the pace considerably and made my push. I knew by my breathing and quick turnover that I was moving at close to race pace now and I felt pretty good still. Sunday afternoons here in the fall with the rain thins out the traffic, pedestrian and otherwise greatly, so I had no conflicts as I came to the end of my run. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my ipod, which much to my dismay was off. I pushed the button and it flashed to life showing the total accumulated time of 2 seconds. I must have paused it as I put it in my pocket at the start of my run. I, for a moment, felt ripped off. All that effort and nothing to show for it. Then I started to laugh at myself as that is not really what I am running for, a time to show for it or a reward is it? No, I run because I can. So my technological companion let me down, in a way but it was I that let myself down by trying to be something that needs to be complimented on my effort, instead of just being satisfied by the effort alone. I learned an important lesson by this. Perhaps I will leave the ipod at home from now on. It doesn't seem to have the same appeal anymore.