Three Little Birds

So what's a runner to do when it's 70 degrees and sunny at the end of October? You guessed it. Run the Esplanade.

I chose this route for yesterday's run because I wanted to soak up some sun and get some good run report material.

Check and check.

First, I realized I'm overdoing it a bit on the weekends. On Saturday (during a sunbreak that included a lot of rain), I ran about six miles in an hour or so. Then Sunday I ran with Coach and the Schlickster for about 45 minutes. Now, the run after the long run is typically a recovery run. But Coach must not have heard that. Trying to keep up with his stride makes it virtually impossible to keep the run nice and easy. (Coach's favorite comment from past "easy" runs: "It's easy for me!")

Anyhoo! My tired legs (even with a day off) started at Via and continued downtown and the first incident occurred right before the Steel Bridge. Two novice cyclists (sans helmets and riding cruisers [I think that streamers off the handlebars would have been appropriate for these two asses]) come up behind me. The man passes me on my left, the woman passes me on the right. Already I think to myself "FUCKING idiots!" But lo and behold they surpass even that label when they come together right in front of me and STOP to talk!!!! Now I am not about to stop because I'm dying, so I run between them and say "Are you really going to stop right there? GAWD!" and continue on.

Of course they pass me in about ten seconds and I was DYING for a comment. Just dying for one because I was ready to roll some skulls. But they must have realized they were idiots because they kept their mouths shut. Damn it.

The next incident occurred in the Pearl District on about 11th or 12th. Now, I'm not sure if you all know this, but pedestrians who are standing on a corner get the right of way and cars SHOULD stop. I hate shoulding people, but it is the law (I think. I'm pretty sure.), and I'm dying for a car to hit me so I can sue some asses.

I stop at a corner and watch a car slow down and beep at a woman who looked like she was going to cross in front of the car. The car is going five miles an hour. I see the window is open and decide to take the opportunity to educate these stupid coolies in a hoop-di (hoopdy? hoop-dy?). I say to them: "You have to stop for pedestrians." And before I could even finish my sentence, I'm greeted with two huge birds out both car windows! Pleased with myself, I in turn flip them the bird! And all was well with the world, because my adrenalin surged and I could finish the run on a good note.

God, running downtown is good times. Even though I can't snot rocket, I love interacting with the peeps. Run on the trail today.

I'll run in the rain til I'm breathless

Again, I've run way more than I post. And here's the quick reason. I don't hate running as I once did. Meaning, back in the day I hated the first five minutes when I was dying, I hated hills, I hated long runs, I hated everything, but I forced myself to do it. Now, I LOVE LOVE LOVE to run. And we all know that love is just not funny.

Anyhoo, today I ran in Forest Park in the rain. My little 35 minute loop dee loop. I ran across some other die hards and one tree-trimming crew...how much would that suck? My other rainy run was last week and it RAINED. I mean torrential downpours. It did die down as my run ended, but as soon as I came to the last set of hills, I thought to myself "This is it. Just these hills and you're done." And didn't the sky open up like a mother and dump three times as much water on my head? I actually laughed out loud. It was kind of like the hills saying, "Oh you like hills now? Well fuck you sister."

On Saturday I ran my favorite loop twice for a total of 1 hour and twelve minutes. It was tough because a) I had to do it by myself b) it was Saturday in Forest Park, lots of people lolligagging and letting their dogs run rampant and c) it was long. But I did it and felt so good that I actually got teary at the end. Seriously. Must have been the endorphins.

And some quick notes to wrap everything up:

• It's time for a smaller sports bra when you can hear a slapping noise over your own breathing and you can see your boobs in your peripheral vision.
• Blowing snot out of your nose is a million times better than snuffling for 35 minutes on a run.
• There is absolutely nothing like running in Forest Park. It is perhaps the best place to run on the entire planet.
• The David Cadiz method of running without stretching probably only works if you're an athlete who can qualify for the Boston Marathon.

And that is that. What you want a picture? Done!

E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!!!

(too bad I don't have a Penn State outfit, because they kicked the crap out of Benji's Badger's!)