Happy? run
Friday, March 6th, 2009It’s 73ish degrees out and 50 degrees warmer than 2 days ago when I ran — yes, I live in Iowa.
Most people would think that this weather is fabulous for a run. Not when you’ve been running all winter and the temperature suddenly jumps up. My body is set for about 20-30 degrees (as opposed to this time last month where it was set to run in 10-15 degrees)…and 75 degrees is sweltering for this body right now. I have to ease back into it…you know..with normal temperature increases.
Either way, it was gorgeous out, so I would complain about it. I had to run 8 miles in this. You might as well have told me to run a marathon in the middle of the rainforest because that’s what I felt like. I had a tank top and super short shorts on and considered taking off my tank top, but I was already getting way too much attention for “improper” attire. In fact, a 13-or-so-year-old girl walking out of Godfather’s Pizza yelled at me as I passed by, “Hey, it’s way too cold outside to be wearing that, don’t you know??!” Really? Could that be why I’m drenched in sweat? Probably.
It was really tough keeping going today. I managed to keep it at a 9 minute mile pace..slow, but whatever. This time last year I was at a 10 minute mile pace, so I don’t care. I had to stop quite a few times for the dreaded walk. I’m sure I looked really strange WALKING in a tank top and shorts..but whatever. I got a few hoots and hollers from stupid boys in stupid cars. (oh yeah? well I’m not into 15-year-olds…sorry)
I managed to run across this trail (no pun intended) that I hadn’t discovered before. I guess I almost discovered it several times but always turned the other way or turned around before I found it. I went farther down grand to about McDonalds and decided not to run back up the hill…so I ran down this trail hoping it would lead somewhere (there were a few older women walking it, so I figured I’d be safe). I stopped and asked where it ended up and sure enough it connected with my route. Sweet.
The thing I forgot about running trails is that there’s bikers and people with dogs and that usually people with dogs don’t use leashes. Before reading on, please know this: I LOVE DOGS. I love them sooo much, but I don’t love it when they come flying at me at lightning speed out of nowhere. Yes — you may know your dog isn’t going to jump on me or bite me, but I DON’T. I can only assume the worst. Every dog I see running at me, whether it’s 15 pounds (hey, I own a very mean dachshund that has left scars) or a 200 pound dog looks the same: TEETH and CLAWS (see below).
So if you’re reading this and own a dog, do your dog and everybody else a favor and use a leash. I don’t care how well-trained you think your dog is. Wouldn’t it break your heart if your dog randomly ran out into traffic and was hit? That is another reason it makes me so mad that people don’t use leashes. Dogs are animals. They make split second instinct decisions no matter HOW well trained they are.
</end rant>
Back to my run: I eventually made it home and now I’m chilling out.
