I certainly didn't run on vegetables today- I ran on vegan cake, soy ice cream, and champagne sangria. Surprisingly, this brunch fuel seemed to work for my long run- I did 1 hour and 22 minutes today.
Why is it that a light mist turns into a downpour about 5 minutes into a run? After I have invested that 5 minutes, I am very unlikely to turn around. The first 5 is really the most uncomfortable part of any run. I was soaked and ran through a couple of puddles the size of lakes on my way up York street. I ran a couple of loops for the stairs in the park at the top of York and passed another lady doing the same. We smiled at our mutual craziness as the rain poured down our faces.
I made my way past Maine Med, past USM and finished off my run around the boulevard. It was mucky and misty and windy and I passed a handful of runners. A certain sort of person runs in weather like this...I like to think it is raw dedication, or a kinship with nature and all of her elements, or a tolerance for suffering. I think what it comes right down to is that we are all a little bit crazy and it is a sort of crazy that only another runner or athlete would understand.
This was one of the best runs I've had for a while- I was happy to spend a morning with friends and happy to spend an hour and a half with my own thoughts and this rain that doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
what's black and white...
Yesterday's 4-mile hilly run was pretty uneventful. Uneventful is good in many ways. Tonight was a bit of a different story.
After a long day of errand running and an entirely unhealthy lunch at Silly's, Gav and I decided to do a late run. It is a beautiful night and, though a little heavy from our food, we were moving along at a decent pace. While running up the hill from Danforth to the Western Prom (killer hill by the graveyard) we had a bit of a scare. I was in a meditative state, running along when I noticed a small figure running towards us. Slow to process what I was seeing, I realized that the skunk was also out for a nightly run and he noticed us about the time we noticed him. He was headed right at us and as soon as I yelled 'skunk' to Gav, he lifted his little tail. I was a sprinter for a moment. A damn fast sprinter. I could win serious races if you released a bunch of skunks at me. I think Gavin could too. We either narrowly escaped the spray or he decided against it after all. That was about halfway through our run and every shadow after that looked like it might be a black and white critter. I am glad to be home and only mildly stinky as I usually am after a run!
After a long day of errand running and an entirely unhealthy lunch at Silly's, Gav and I decided to do a late run. It is a beautiful night and, though a little heavy from our food, we were moving along at a decent pace. While running up the hill from Danforth to the Western Prom (killer hill by the graveyard) we had a bit of a scare. I was in a meditative state, running along when I noticed a small figure running towards us. Slow to process what I was seeing, I realized that the skunk was also out for a nightly run and he noticed us about the time we noticed him. He was headed right at us and as soon as I yelled 'skunk' to Gav, he lifted his little tail. I was a sprinter for a moment. A damn fast sprinter. I could win serious races if you released a bunch of skunks at me. I think Gavin could too. We either narrowly escaped the spray or he decided against it after all. That was about halfway through our run and every shadow after that looked like it might be a black and white critter. I am glad to be home and only mildly stinky as I usually am after a run!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
no run today
Today is a cross-training day. Thank god because it just started pouring again. I think I will do some weight training here at home where it is dry and warm. Weight training makes me feel like a bad-ass. Especially bench presses. Bench presses are tough.
running in the rain and foamy pits
Yesterday was the punishment run. The I had too much beer last night, I feel like a soggy lush with a quarter of a brain sort of run. Running is such a good cure for a hangover but god it sucks. Buckets of sweat that may or may not smell of beer, a feeling that you are running through molasses. I suppose I must learn my lesson somehow. Anyway, I felt great after.
Funny think about yesterdays run...I looked down at one point and saw that my armpits were foaming. I didn't have that much beer the night before! After a moment of panic I realized that I had hand-washed my clothes and not rinsed out the soap well so it was bubbling from the rain and collecting right at my pits! People driving by must have wondered what the heck was wrong with me!
Funny think about yesterdays run...I looked down at one point and saw that my armpits were foaming. I didn't have that much beer the night before! After a moment of panic I realized that I had hand-washed my clothes and not rinsed out the soap well so it was bubbling from the rain and collecting right at my pits! People driving by must have wondered what the heck was wrong with me!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Technology master!
Okay, so maybe you have all been doing this for years but I am old fashioned and stubborn beyond my years so give me a break.
I am starting this blog (never say never I guess) so you all might follow my progress towards my marathon in October- my first marathon and first big race.
Today is one of those days that it is hard to motivate- rainy and gross. I have to run 6 miles today. Nothing too painful.
So...keep an eye on this and give me hell if I slack on it. I Hope you will all be amused at the story of my continued work towards 26 (gulp) miles.
I am starting this blog (never say never I guess) so you all might follow my progress towards my marathon in October- my first marathon and first big race.
Today is one of those days that it is hard to motivate- rainy and gross. I have to run 6 miles today. Nothing too painful.
So...keep an eye on this and give me hell if I slack on it. I Hope you will all be amused at the story of my continued work towards 26 (gulp) miles.
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