Feb 19, 2007
Fear and Loathing on Eastern Parkway
I've always been a big Hunter S. Thompson fan and the words "fear and loathing" occured to me as I drove to Fleet Feet at 7:25 Saturday morning. "Fear" because you never know how to dress in 14 degree temperatures. You are either dressed too warm or too cold. Memories of a 4 degree morning and frost nip on my fifth extremity came to mind. "Loathing" because running up Eastern Parkway, from Iroquois Park, always brings back memories of struggling to maintain an upright, running position, while trudging up the monster hill at the Medical Center, comes to mind.
As it worked out, neither my fear nor loathing was an issue. The temperatures, although cold, were not excessive. (14 degrees) My loathing, although well founded, was inconsequential. I went into a "zone", (ie: A trancelike state where, although being aware of reality, allows the runner to run practically unconscience for several minutes), at Papa John's Stadium, and on the return run, practically sprinted up the hill.
I began the day running with several people, but finished the turn around with Karin # 1 and Leslie. (We had 3 Karens and had to number them.) We ran to New Cut Road, from Fleet Feet. and back. (Approximately 14 miles.) Several runners cut the run short, because they were training for half marathons. It was generally a beautiful day, albeit cold, and a super workout. We had great conversation about the malaise of people on Valentine's Day, until I went into my zone and ran by myself the last 3 miles of the run. The real bummer was that my IPOD battery was dead and I couldn't run to my "Running Playlist" for the last few miles of the run.
As always, we finished strong and headed to Heine Bros. for great conversation, (discussion of Brittney Spears photogenic anatomy and other topics), and some great Rwandan coffee.
As it worked out, neither my fear nor loathing was an issue. The temperatures, although cold, were not excessive. (14 degrees) My loathing, although well founded, was inconsequential. I went into a "zone", (ie: A trancelike state where, although being aware of reality, allows the runner to run practically unconscience for several minutes), at Papa John's Stadium, and on the return run, practically sprinted up the hill.
I began the day running with several people, but finished the turn around with Karin # 1 and Leslie. (We had 3 Karens and had to number them.) We ran to New Cut Road, from Fleet Feet. and back. (Approximately 14 miles.) Several runners cut the run short, because they were training for half marathons. It was generally a beautiful day, albeit cold, and a super workout. We had great conversation about the malaise of people on Valentine's Day, until I went into my zone and ran by myself the last 3 miles of the run. The real bummer was that my IPOD battery was dead and I couldn't run to my "Running Playlist" for the last few miles of the run.
As always, we finished strong and headed to Heine Bros. for great conversation, (discussion of Brittney Spears photogenic anatomy and other topics), and some great Rwandan coffee.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]