Wednesday, August 15, 2007

today i went running up at strawberry canyon. it's a quick hop skip and a jump from my cubicle to my car to the trails.

very dangerous in these tedious times in the ol' yob.

before i went running, i worked on a little short story. i've been working on it for some time now. i keep saying oh f-it, it's as good as it's gonna get, then i take it out and read it and think, oh no that will never do. i date each version. some versions go back to 2005. can't say i haven't tried with this one.

after my three hour creative writing session, i thought, my car needs a wash. so, i walked home, tried to get daisy out from under the bed by throwing some kibble her way but alas no, she stayed there crouching by my rollers.

gave the piece of shit (the car, not our lovely Daisy) a good scrubbin. i think, like the story, it was last polished in 2005. i like washing the car, and wonder why i don't do it more often. still, it's never comes out as shiny as i expect it to after all the hard effort...such is life.

so up to the trails i go. there's a nice small parking space at the bottom of the trails. enough for about ten cars. i'm lucky today and get a spot. i undress in the front seat of the car and pull on my running gear: linda's WNBA shorts that could use some elastic around the waist, a velopromo tee-shirt, i think from 2005, and a pair of running shoes that are probably better suited to a basketball court or a nursing ward. linda think's they're ugly and i agree, but for 14.95, you don't get style and functionality -- you get ugly.

i'm not in running shape. i feel my ass jiggle instantly. not a good feeling. but i love running. well, i really shouldn't call what i'm doing running. it's more like trotting, or slopping. i make no attempt to kick up my legs or pump my arms. i just sort of chug along. and unlike bike riding i don't give a hoot who passes me as long as they do it quickly and leave me alone to the quiet of nature. and unlike bike riding i find myself nodding off, losing sense of time and space and i become completely relaxed. it's a great feeling. sorta like being stoned but without the cravings or the dry mouth.

but then i'm enjoying it so much, i start thinking how can i make this even better. maybe i'll go and buy myself a nicer jogging bra, perhaps a tank-top...i'm almost starting to envision myself entering a marathon when i have to tell myself -- stop, cuz I know all those things will change this. pretty soon i'll start timing myself, picking up speed when someone passes, carrying (egads, linda's garmin). no, that'll change everything. somethings i don't want to work at.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

that is EXACTLY how I feel about running (trotting). I even wear VPromo shirts too (I like wearing biking shirts when I trot because then when REAL runners seeme they will just think "oh, she's a BIKE RACER, it's OK that she can't run worth beans because she is obviously really fast on two wheels as she won that adorable shirt")

PAB(a.k.a.CID) said...

mmm, i can't wait to start doing some running.

or some walking for that matter

and i agree, keep it fun, relaxed,unstructured, non competitive. For as long as possible.

That is how bike riding used to be. I turned it into a competetive thing and look where it got me...

~ lauren said...

you did all that during lunch on a work day?

i love trail running.

Lilly Bella said...

t.m.-real runners will just think you got yourself a participants tee because in running races the tee is part of the entry. You'll have to flex your quads to show 'em you're fast.

marsey-you make me miss running, I hike rather than run but now I miss it. I tried to keep cycling just fun, but that performance thing gets in the way...and unlike running, when you get shelled off the back of a peloton...the ego hurts more. Do you get sore? Ouch! I'll get sore with 30 minutes now.

chatterbox said...

You gotta keep some things completely in the 'fun' category with no goals. I once ruined running by doing a marathon. I like to trail run, too. I'll be getting some of that back in my life when the racing is officially over.

Allison Krasnow said...

i went running last week while in Colorado. I loved it and realized that i so miss it.

until the next morning when my IT bands and groin gave me a good ole good morning shout.

but i do love it.

marscat said...

tm: real runners don't even notice me. i'm like a little bit of dog doo they float past.

pab: when i broke my collarbone, i was given three hour walks...i really started liking them too.

lauren: there was no lunch hour involved...purely on the clock.


lilly: yes, a little sore today. so cannot skip out for a little trot. i could call what i'm doing hiking, i suppose...it's about that fast which is not to say you're not a fast hiker...

cb: yes, this will remain in the fun box.

alicat: ooh i bet colorado trails in the fall are beautiful...

~ lauren said...

it's good to know there are others doing stuff like that "on the clock".

sometimes i garden "on the clock".

Ippoc Amic said...

I told you those shorts would be baggy in the waist...they are 20+ years old and doesn't elastic deteriorate?

Unknown said...

don't let your boss see this comments section. take it from me.

Eclectchick said...

"i become completely relaxed. it's a great feeling. sorta like being stoned but without the cravings or the dry mouth."

Oh, that is priceless.