Today, I actually had a nice run (with my new Sony mp3 player–lurve it!!). It was the kind of nice where…while maybe I wasn’t up for it, I could for a brief second understand why anyone would want to run for 4 hours straight outside (on a nice day, of course). I had moments (albeit brief) where running didn’t HURT. My abdomen didn’t hurt, my legs didn’t hurt, my back didn’t hurt, my shoulders didn’t hurt, and no combination of the above bothered me. Those were quiet moments when I was just listening to my mp3 player and drifting off in my head. I liked it. I would like it if it felt like that MORE often vs. not, but oh well. It’s a start.
Kim suggested an idea I decided to put into motion. (ha) She suggested I might enjoy running a lot more in a less congested area, maybe even a park or a forest preserve. Parks tend to bore me with their loopy, overcrowded concrete trails and a forest preserve…well, the closest one would definitely require a ride on the bus, and it’s funny to me to think about taking public transit to go for a run. I did, however, do something of a warm-up walk until I was far enough west to a less congested area near the north branch of the river that I’ve run before and always enjoy. Part of that trek is my standard 2 – 3 mile loop (depending on where I turn to come back) so I usually only run it when I am running for distance.
I did my 30 minutes, and came upon a park I forgot had some trails. Now, they were pretty short trails, but much better than the damn concrete loops and very quiet and nice. I walked at this point as I was more in “investigation” mode but I liked what I saw. Well, except for the fact there were signs everywhere that said, “Bird and butterfly sanctuary, NO DOGS ALLOWED” and of course there were dogs all over the place off the leash. (I am sorry dog people, but the dog off the leash thing is really becoming a pain to me and clear violation of the sanctuary rules just PISSED ME OFF. I mean really, I was looking for a nice quiet place to run and here was a place sanctioned for quiet activity and yet…still!! Argh!!)
Anyway, I spent about another 30 minutes walking through the park and home and all in all it was really enjoyable. It got me thinking about some more nontraditional running paths I could try on the days I want to run. I even mentioned to Kim that I would seriously consider running through Rosehill Cemetary because truly…what could be more quiet and peaceful than a cemetary? (and it is a big, gorgeous cemetary, by the way) I still want to like running, I really do. Because I always quit things that are hard for me. And I am not going to quit this time because it’s hard. No, this is a personal vendetta with…er, myself. Myself and the people who let their dogs off the leash in the bird and butterfly sanctuary.
In other news, I really need your good thoughts for my family as my grandpa is in very poor shape. This would be the one who was married to my grandma who passed last year and…well, to be honest, I didn’t expect him to make it long after she went. He is 86 or 87 and so none of this is a surprise or out of the blue but…it still hurts my heart, and I imagine I will be flying home this weekend or next. Thanks in advance, friends.
ETA: Grandpa passed away last night, I’ll be heading to Ohio this weekend.
Posted by wafelenbak 