How about a Running Commentary post instead of my usual Lame Post Friday? For one reason, I ran. For another reason, the Utica Boilermaker 15K is one week and two days away; it is just about time for this blog to become All Boilermaker All The Time.
It was dreadfully warm at work today. When I left the building at lunch time to pick up a prescription (at The Medicine Shoppe in Ilion, a great place to do business with), it was even more oppressive outdoors. Yikes. But I had only run Sunday and Wednesday this week (don’t judge me). It would be a really good idea to run. Rumor had it there would be a terrific storm right about the time I was scheduled to leave work. Of course I don’t believe everything I hear. Anyways, if there was thunder and lightning, I could run in place on the mini-tramp while watching my DVD of Nosferatu (regular readers may remember how I am obsessed with that silent vampire movie from 1922).
When I left work, it was raining a nice, gentle rain, which had cooled things off nicely.
“This is great,” I said to the co-worker I walked out with. “I can totally run in this!” My plan was made.
First I had a couple of stops to make. As I got to them, the rain began to pour down in a most torrential fashion. I was drenched before I entered the first stop. Of course, due to my odd personality quirk, I laugh at such weather, so it was really no problem getting drenched. I bet the cashier at the second store that it would stop raining by the time I got home. And, what do you know, it did. I happily put on my running clothes and got going.
The first thing I noticed was that the lovely coolness I had enjoyed as I left work was gone. The sun was hot and the humidity was back. Never mind that, I told myself. Just run.
I took off down German Street, turning right, because I had turned left on Wednesday’s run. I headed toward the HARC building, because I wanted to check out the new playground behind it. They had their grand opening recently, but I have not been there since it was a work in progress. It seemed to take a long time to get to the end of German Street. I persevered, dodging around the puddles and trying to ignore the humidity. I concentrated on running smoothly and taking deep, full breaths.
The playground looks pretty good. I entered through the archway and started around the blacktop path that surrounds it. There are a few exercise stations. Cool! I’ll have to come back and try them. I’ve been meaning to incorporate different exercises into my workout.
I was able to continue a slow, steady pace without too much discomfort. I did not reach the “I Can Rock This” stage, but neither was my body crying out for me to for the love of God stop running. I made it for a full half hour. Perhaps a longer run, with a few hills, would have been a good idea, especially given the proximity of the Boilermaker. However, I plan to run again first thing in the morning. I’ll see how bad-ass of a run I can do then.
After my run, a shower felt great, and a glass of chocolate milk tasted delicious. Now I have finished my blog post, so that is another chore done. I think it is time to commence celebrating my weekend. Maybe I’ll watch Nosferatu. Happy Friday, everyone.
