I had planned to do a 4-5 mile run after work. I didn't have quite the best day and the thought of sitting on my couch with my book/or a tv show, a beer, and a bag of chips sounded so much better. It was that kind of day! I forced on my running shoes and watch and told myself if I could just get in 3 miles I would be happy and then I could proceed with couch sitting and bad nutrition choices. After what seemed to be an eternity, my watch found satellite and off I went. It is funny how it all turns around...
I take off and ouch. My legs hurt, my hip is screaming why why why, and my mind just hates everything. I hate that kid because he is riding his bike and smiling and why can't I smile when I am on my bike and I hate my neighbor because she is skinny and driving her car and not running and why can't I be skinny and not running. Anyway I pass by a house that has one of those invisible fences for the dog. I do not quite understand the purpose, not sure if it is cheaper or what. All it did was scare the crap out of me my first couple runs because the dog came darting for me and no friendly dog parent was to be found so I was left screaming at the dog only to have dog pull back before shocker fence hits him. Anyway the dog and I have hit common ground. Now when I pass we pay a game to see who can get to the end of the yard first. Dog usually wins, I let him has his moment, and I move on... a little bit happier.
About this time I hit a half mile and all the pain from the beginning, which was definitely over-exaggerated, has worn off, I think how fast that half went by and how fast I will be home and ruining the 3 miles I put in. This makes me happier as well!
I turn out of the neighborhood onto busy street to head over to the other neighborhood. I know once I get there I will hit the mile mark and be a third done. I pass all the cars heading home from work and suddenly I am Kara Goucher. Oh Yah! Look at me, I am running with my perfect running form and see how fast I am! I turn off busy street into other neighborhood and hit the mile mark and I am dying. Oh my gosh I did Kara pace for .2 of a mile and I think I may die. So I slow back down while going up a monstrous hill. Ok so it is a Savoy hill which means speed bump but I am telling the story so it is monstrous! I pass a couple with a dog and they say hello, I am getting a little happier, or was it because I passed the 1.5 mark? I pass another runner, we wave, he is breathing much harder than I am, he must have thought he was Kara on that busy road too. I hit the two mile mark and start to consider going 4 miles. I am half way there and I could eat more chips. Ok 4, I will go 4!
I head back out onto busy road and car with run girl texting tries to run me over but when she looks up and freaks out I feel she won't be texting anymore while driving and I feel like superwoman, yah, If I wasn't there to almost get hit she may have actually hit someone, yah I saved someones life. Happier!! Mile 3 goes by so fast I consider going 5! Yah I will go 5, then I can eat the whole bag of chips.
Around mile 4 I am coming up on another Savoy neighborhood, yah there are a few within a few miles, and a lady won't get over and I have to run in the ditch! Woohoo trail running, you made me go off road you mean mean lady. Well I said other words but it made me happier! I hit neighborhood and it is like an obstacle course! They have removed parts of the road so I am running through barriers and having a blast! I meet a lady with a pitbull who wants to kiss me and I only stop for dogs and potty breaks on runs but the lady doesn't seem to think it is a good idea for her pit to kiss me. Bye cute doggy! Off I go.
Looking at watch I am almost at 5 miles and could run home and be right at 5, no running around the block to get exactly 5 because I end at 4.92 or anything! I can run to my door. But man, it would be so much better to tell my facebook friends I ran 6! Oh yah, 6 it is! I am a superstar! Wow, I am feeling so great! This is the best day ever! I start waving at everyone. Yah I am having the best run, look at me! I do not plan the ending as well as if I did 5 so, what the hell, I will just make it an even 10k!
Walking in my door and shutting off my watch I look over at the couch, the couch that looked so great less than 50 minutes ago. It doesn't look as good now. I do not really want chips anymore but some Gatorade or chocolate milk sounds good! A shower sounds good too! Oh, there's Cory, oh he didn't have a good day, I think he should go for a run, don't you???
