Sometimes, I just feel ALIVE
I had one of those runs yesterday that just reminded me of why I love running.
When I woke up, it was already raining pretty steadily. A little rain is no big deal, so I started getting myself ready. I squished a Clif bar into a plastic baggie and packed it into the little pouch that clips onto my waistband. I packed a small bag full of Gatorade, water, pants, and a hat (which I rarely use...I prefer a bandana). For some reason, even though I knew I'd be out in the rain, it never even crossed my mind to grab a towel. Instead, I just headed on out the door. Ah well.
When I got to Maybury, there was a small group outside the shelter. It looked like some sort of day camp deal, with lots of boys and some adults among them. When I got out of my car, I walked past a couple who got out of an SUV with their dog. The guy smiled and made a comment that I must be a dedicated runner, as there was a light steady rain. I just laughed and told them that it wouldn't be as bad back under the trees. The lady looked at me and said, "You must be a trail runner". For some reason, I was especially pleased to be pegged as such. I told them that I was a road runner, but I jut started getting out on the trails. I found out that they're trail runners themselves, and they participate in a lot of local trail races. Maybe one day I'll see them at one. :)
Stretched out a little and waited for my Garmin to get a satellite signal under the shelter, along with another guy who I had seen there last week. We made idle chit chat about the rain, then he strapped on his hydration belt, bid me goodbye, and headed off on the trail. I watched the group head off hiking down the trail, some with backpacks and most with ponchos on. They had already disappeared by the time I headed off. Less than a mile down the trail, there is a loop that intersects with equestrian trails. The group was standing down there, and the leader was just finishing up explaining the trails. He told them that they weren't going down the horse trails, and as I passed by, he motioned after me and said "We're going to follow her". I heard one of the boys ask "Do we have to run?". That definitely made me laugh.
I had hoped to get to the park right around open at 8. Unfortunately, I was running late, so I only had time to get in just over 3 miles on my own before it was time to meet up with the running club. Just as I started out on the trails, it opened up. I was soaked within a mile. Just after 9:00, I came bursting out of the woods. The group of hikers was back in the shelter, doing some sort of activity. I walked to my car, took a couple of swigs of my water, then walked over to the shelter. I could see a small group huddled near the front, and could tell they were runners. I introduced myself as a new member, and they introduced themselves back. As I was standing there, I noticed that there was literally steam rolling off of me. Awesome!!!
We trotted out onto the paved bike paths and made our way through the park on those. I ended up running with a very awesome couple. The woman informed me at some point that she is 67, and I damn near fell over. She barely looked over 50!! Both she and her husband had run many marathons, and she herself had run 75 of them. Some of those included ultras! 5 miles passed quickly as they told me stories about the races they have done. They really are super nice people, and I look forward to seeing them again. When we got back to the shelter, I thanked them for running with me and said goodbye. I stopped at my car to grab my water and took the opportunity to eat a little of my Clif bar before heading back into the trails for 5 more miles.
Those 5 miles were probably the most fun I've had in quite a while. There was I, soaking wet with shoes that squished with every step, flying along the trails. My legs felt amazingly good - hardly tired at all, even after 8 miles! The rain started coming down harder again. I headed toward the back of the park, careening down the trails like a madwoman. I'd plow my way up a hill, then slide down the mud on the other side, laughing out loud as I skidded along, nearly biting it from time to time. At one point, I passed the group again, as they were hiking back toward the front of the park. I waved and grinned at them all, with a special nod towards to the couple with the dog. When I turned around for the last 2 miles back, I ended up passing another couple walking the trails in ponchos. I called out that I was passing them and they moved over. As I passed, I thanked them, then grinned and said "Beautiful day to be outside, isn't it?". They laughed and the man replied that it sure was. I plowed on through the trails until I busted out of the woods again and my Garmin beeped at 13 miles. And there I was, soaked to the bone and caked in mud up to my knees. Yes!!!
The rain was coming down in solid sheets, and there was the odd rumble of thunder (but no lightning!!). I grabbed my pants and jacket out of the car and ran over to the shelter, where there are restrooms. Once in there, I peeled off my bandana and stuck my head under the hand dryer, trying to get some of the water off my face (there are no paper towels, just one dryer). I managed to peel off my soaking wet clothes and change into the pants and jacket - hey, I had no other clothes and I didn't want to absolutely soak my car seat. I stuffed my soaked clothes into my bag, wore my shoes just long enough to shuffle out of the bathroom, then grabbed them and ran barefoot back to my car. Woo! I looked like a drowned rat. And I felt happier than ever!!
I gotta tell you guys, there's nothing that compares to the absolute feeling of freedom I had out there. Muddy, wet, moving under my own power through the woods in a summer rainstorm....just...amazing. I can't even describe what it's like to be hidden in a sea of browns and bright greens, with the sound of the rain through the trees and the solid dirt and mud under my feet. It was amazing.
After I got home, I stretched a little then got into a steaming hot shower. It was so nice to get clean, dry off (for the first time in hours!!!), and get cozy in pants and a sweatshirt (hey, our AC was on and I wanted to be warm). The best part was, even with no ice bath, my legs hardly felt sore the rest of the day.
I can't wait to get back out there next weekend. I still run on the paved paths around here during the week, but I'm starting to live for the weekends on the trails. It's a whole different animal, and it's one I love!
I hope you all had an amazing weekend, and I hope the coming week treats you well. I'll be at Hawthorn all week long, then I get a three week break. It's going to be a long week, but I'm looking forward to it. Take care, my friends.
Love!
When I woke up, it was already raining pretty steadily. A little rain is no big deal, so I started getting myself ready. I squished a Clif bar into a plastic baggie and packed it into the little pouch that clips onto my waistband. I packed a small bag full of Gatorade, water, pants, and a hat (which I rarely use...I prefer a bandana). For some reason, even though I knew I'd be out in the rain, it never even crossed my mind to grab a towel. Instead, I just headed on out the door. Ah well.
When I got to Maybury, there was a small group outside the shelter. It looked like some sort of day camp deal, with lots of boys and some adults among them. When I got out of my car, I walked past a couple who got out of an SUV with their dog. The guy smiled and made a comment that I must be a dedicated runner, as there was a light steady rain. I just laughed and told them that it wouldn't be as bad back under the trees. The lady looked at me and said, "You must be a trail runner". For some reason, I was especially pleased to be pegged as such. I told them that I was a road runner, but I jut started getting out on the trails. I found out that they're trail runners themselves, and they participate in a lot of local trail races. Maybe one day I'll see them at one. :)
Stretched out a little and waited for my Garmin to get a satellite signal under the shelter, along with another guy who I had seen there last week. We made idle chit chat about the rain, then he strapped on his hydration belt, bid me goodbye, and headed off on the trail. I watched the group head off hiking down the trail, some with backpacks and most with ponchos on. They had already disappeared by the time I headed off. Less than a mile down the trail, there is a loop that intersects with equestrian trails. The group was standing down there, and the leader was just finishing up explaining the trails. He told them that they weren't going down the horse trails, and as I passed by, he motioned after me and said "We're going to follow her". I heard one of the boys ask "Do we have to run?". That definitely made me laugh.
I had hoped to get to the park right around open at 8. Unfortunately, I was running late, so I only had time to get in just over 3 miles on my own before it was time to meet up with the running club. Just as I started out on the trails, it opened up. I was soaked within a mile. Just after 9:00, I came bursting out of the woods. The group of hikers was back in the shelter, doing some sort of activity. I walked to my car, took a couple of swigs of my water, then walked over to the shelter. I could see a small group huddled near the front, and could tell they were runners. I introduced myself as a new member, and they introduced themselves back. As I was standing there, I noticed that there was literally steam rolling off of me. Awesome!!!
We trotted out onto the paved bike paths and made our way through the park on those. I ended up running with a very awesome couple. The woman informed me at some point that she is 67, and I damn near fell over. She barely looked over 50!! Both she and her husband had run many marathons, and she herself had run 75 of them. Some of those included ultras! 5 miles passed quickly as they told me stories about the races they have done. They really are super nice people, and I look forward to seeing them again. When we got back to the shelter, I thanked them for running with me and said goodbye. I stopped at my car to grab my water and took the opportunity to eat a little of my Clif bar before heading back into the trails for 5 more miles.
Those 5 miles were probably the most fun I've had in quite a while. There was I, soaking wet with shoes that squished with every step, flying along the trails. My legs felt amazingly good - hardly tired at all, even after 8 miles! The rain started coming down harder again. I headed toward the back of the park, careening down the trails like a madwoman. I'd plow my way up a hill, then slide down the mud on the other side, laughing out loud as I skidded along, nearly biting it from time to time. At one point, I passed the group again, as they were hiking back toward the front of the park. I waved and grinned at them all, with a special nod towards to the couple with the dog. When I turned around for the last 2 miles back, I ended up passing another couple walking the trails in ponchos. I called out that I was passing them and they moved over. As I passed, I thanked them, then grinned and said "Beautiful day to be outside, isn't it?". They laughed and the man replied that it sure was. I plowed on through the trails until I busted out of the woods again and my Garmin beeped at 13 miles. And there I was, soaked to the bone and caked in mud up to my knees. Yes!!!
The rain was coming down in solid sheets, and there was the odd rumble of thunder (but no lightning!!). I grabbed my pants and jacket out of the car and ran over to the shelter, where there are restrooms. Once in there, I peeled off my bandana and stuck my head under the hand dryer, trying to get some of the water off my face (there are no paper towels, just one dryer). I managed to peel off my soaking wet clothes and change into the pants and jacket - hey, I had no other clothes and I didn't want to absolutely soak my car seat. I stuffed my soaked clothes into my bag, wore my shoes just long enough to shuffle out of the bathroom, then grabbed them and ran barefoot back to my car. Woo! I looked like a drowned rat. And I felt happier than ever!!
I gotta tell you guys, there's nothing that compares to the absolute feeling of freedom I had out there. Muddy, wet, moving under my own power through the woods in a summer rainstorm....just...amazing. I can't even describe what it's like to be hidden in a sea of browns and bright greens, with the sound of the rain through the trees and the solid dirt and mud under my feet. It was amazing.
After I got home, I stretched a little then got into a steaming hot shower. It was so nice to get clean, dry off (for the first time in hours!!!), and get cozy in pants and a sweatshirt (hey, our AC was on and I wanted to be warm). The best part was, even with no ice bath, my legs hardly felt sore the rest of the day.
I can't wait to get back out there next weekend. I still run on the paved paths around here during the week, but I'm starting to live for the weekends on the trails. It's a whole different animal, and it's one I love!
I hope you all had an amazing weekend, and I hope the coming week treats you well. I'll be at Hawthorn all week long, then I get a three week break. It's going to be a long week, but I'm looking forward to it. Take care, my friends.
Love!