I bet some of you thought Saturday Running Commentary was never coming back. Well, I certainly did not expect it to return today, but here I am, a little sore of leg but ready to type.
I worked this morning so missed the early morning run I usually enjoy on a Saturday. When I got home from work I was hungry. Also, my dog looked so happy to see me, I hated to leave him again so soon. So I ate, called my parents, got on the computer, puttered around and eventually laid down on the couch with a headache. I kept thinking I ought to run. For one reason, I hadn’t run since Tuesday. But it seemed clear that I was not going to. I should perhaps mention that I am going through an intense bout of I Don’t Feel Like Doing ANYTHING lately (oh, don’t tell me that the only cure for that is to DO something, I know that, everybody knows that, just be quiet and keep reading).
Finally, around 3 o’clock, I saw on Facebook that a friend had just gone running. For goodness sake, if she could do it, I could do it. I finally got my fat butt out the door.
It was warm and humid. The breeze was absolute heaven when it blew. Alas, it did not blow very often. Never mind; one thing I know how to do is to persevere. I decided to run up the hill to Herkimer College. I have been telling all and sundry that I intend to run the DARE 5K in August. It would behoove me to be prepared.
It was not too dreadful going up the hill. It wasn’t fun, of course. I suppose it was somewhat dreadful. However, it was not TOO dreadful. Just so I’m clear on that point. As I shuffled, I thought about the DARE 5K. Many people walk up that hill on the DARE run. I, however, do not. My shuffle is not much of a run, but dammit, I call it running.
Sometimes when I run, I think somebody I know might see me. Sometimes someone does, and when I run into them later, they say, “I saw you running.” In my head, I answered, “Huffing and puffing like the overweight, middle-aged lady I am.” Then I thought, “I use ‘lady’ in a very broad sense.” Then I added, “And that is appropriate, because, unlike Joan Crawford, I do not take offense at being referred to as a ‘broad.'”
That little bit of imaginary dialogue pleased me so much I kept running uphill and by the buildings of the college, instead of following the road straight to the downhill part, as I had planned to do. I made it all the way to the gymnasium. Next time perhaps I’ll keep going around the athletic fields. As it was, I was feeling quite tired, out of breath and macaroni of legs. I cut across the parking lot instead of hugging the perimeter and thus making my run a little longer. I felt rather naughty doing so, but I can’t be motivated and dedicated every minute.
Finally I was on Reservoir Road and headed downhill. Phew! My relief was not as profound as I had hoped. I kept waiting for the endorphins to kick in, or at least the I Can Rock This stage. Neither happened, but that was OK. I made a mental note to myself to NOT take three days off running in the future, but on the whole I felt quite pleased that I had gotten myself out the door and on the road.
I plan to run again tomorrow and perhaps Monday AND Tuesday. Could this be the start of another streak? I ran 10 days in a row during shut-down. I think I’ll see how many days I can go when working full-time and going to play rehearsals. I’ll let you know how I do.
Mohawk Valley Girl 