Returning to the Run

I know I said I’d talk about the wine tasting today, but Saturday I went running for the first time in two months. I really want to make my post about that.

I’ve been meaning to start running again for some time (actually I never meant to stop, but these things happen; we rarely live up to our ideals). For one thing, I need to make an irrevocable decision and send in my registration for the Boilermaker soon. They are reaching their limit quickly. But it is easy to put these things off, especially in the wintertime. I’m pretty sure that as long as I start by March I can get myself into good shape. Still, it’s not good to leave these things till the last minute.

It was warm early on Saturday, when I was at work and when I was performing various runnings around with Steven and/or Tabby. By the time I’d reached the end of my gyrations it had gotten colder and I had pretty much decided that next week would have to do (yes, I know, some of you are shaking your heads or your fingers at me for wasting our warm days earlier this month; please refer to my earlier parenthetical comment about living up to ideals).

When I got home I thought better of my timorous decision and searched out a pair of leggings, my long-sleeved ARMY t-shirt and a pair of winter running socks (they do make such a thing; they’re awesome). My running shoes were not far to seek since they also serve as my dog-walking shoes. I found a hat and selected a sweatshirt.

I explained to Tabby that I would be back. Tabby is always ready to walk out the door with one, but she does not enjoy running with me. I don’t let her stop and sniff enough. She looked at me reproachfully, and I set out.

About ten steps from my house I thought, “I can rock this.” By the end of my street, I was pretty sure I could not. However, one thing I have learned is to keep going anyways. It may not become easy or fun, but at least I can put the time in. I had thought to run twenty minutes if possible. Now I thought I’d see how it went. “Just run,” I told myself. “However long you run, that’s something to build on.”

So on I ran. The air was cold. My throat did not like it. I’ve never been able to do the in-through-your-nose-out-through-your-mouth trick, because my nose is usually too plugged. It was soon running. Had I remembered to put a fresh tissue in my pocket? Of course not. An old skanky but still usable one was there (sorry to gross anybody out; I’m going for accuracy here). After a good honk, I tried in-through-your-nose. Not so much. Still, these things keep you occupied for a couple of blocks and that’s no small thing.

I saw a pair of underwear on the grass between the sidewalk and the road. It reminded me that I had to do laundry. Speculation on how it got there occupied me for another couple of blocks. I saw what I thought was a wet patch in the sidewalk up ahead, then realized it was shade from the house across the street. I found that as I ran down the street, the sun would hit me in between the shadows of the houses. I had to observe that the shade in the summer is more of a relief than the sun in the winter. Still, we take what we can get.

I ran for twenty-three minutes. Tabby graciously walked a ten minute cool down with me. Then I almost forgot to stretch. Did I mention it had been two months since I ran? Ah well, now I have something to build on. And perhaps subjects for future blog posts. Stay tuned.