Running Week

My marathon is just two months away.  In other words, I'm in the phase of my training where I'm either getting really burned out or really learning to become an efficient distance runner.  Thankfully, this time around, it's the latter.

Spring may be the time of the year for new beginnings, but with the arrival of Fall and its cooler temps and crisp morning greetings, I feel rejuvenated, alive and in the best shape of my life.  This week has been filled with Adventure, Setback, Excitement, Exhilaration, Joy and Laughter.

Adventure

The week started off with a crazy 17-mile run in pouring rain, thunder and lightning.  Thanks to my ever-faithful running crew, we all made it together.  Running in a pitch-dark wooded neighborhood as torrential rain continually doused us, one of the runners in my group summed it up best as she proclaimed, 'this is where my husband doesn't understand me!'   We all silently snickered as we trudged upward on a steep and slippery hill because we get it and we get each other.

Frustration

I woke up Tuesday morning to horrible stomach cramps and completely lacking energy.  I listened to my body and obeyed its message.  No running for two days!  That was hard, but I needed it.

Excitement

 

I found out Wednesday that I was one of three winners of this cute shirt, thanks to the wonderful ladies over at Run Like a Mother blog, I won this cool Oiselle technical running shirt for describing my inner beast. I love this blog!

I also came home Wednesday to the arrival my mid-season training running shoes. There is nothing better than a fresh pair of shoes for a early morning run.

Exhilaration

The rest and cooler temps did my body well.  Thursday's schedule called for a tempo run.  I just kept feeling faster and faster.  I finished my 6.4 mile route in my swiftest time ever.  This was such tremendous validation for all my hard work!

Joy

For the first time in many, many months, I broke out my running tights! Yes, I actually was okay to cover up part of my appendages without dying of heat or without sweating profusely.

AND....I officially bought my entry into the White Rock Marathon.  Best $100 I spent this week!

Laughter

Finally, what is a week without a good pooping Crazy Legs story?  As I approached an intersection, I could see his Shaggyish silhouette ahead of me and although I considered changing routes, I decided that passing him shouldn't scare him too badly.  I briskly ran past only to feel a sudden jolt of flailing awkwardness maneuver a swift re-pass.  He flashed by, made a clean pass on my right and then sprinted up my favorite hill.  He took a sharp left into a parking lot and just like that...Crazy Legs was gone again. 

My Stalker is Afraid of Me

I’ve had my share of running encounters over the years.  I’ve had firecrackers thrown at me from some rebellious teens. 

 I’ve been hit in the back of the head by a bat.  Not the baseball kind, the gross kind.

I’ve had a dog scare the crap out of me, befriend me and then tag along with me all the way home.

I’ve even witnessed a gas station burglary.

Okay, so there wasn’t a gun, but he was wearing a ski mask – SCARY…just pretend you didn’t read that Mom!

Then there was that recent “Attack of the Gnats” episode.

Occasionally I’ll get a honk (because I would like to think I look good but) probably because the driver thinks I should get the blankety blank off the road.

But one thing that remains constant is my daily run-ins with my stalker, Crazy Legs. Technically, I guess I can’t really call him a stalker since I think he’s afraid of me, but if I had a stalker, I would picture him to look like Crazy Legs.

This man I call Crazy Legs runs through my neighborhood and I often see him if I’m out early enough. He’s an odd man with an unusual running style. I would say he’s somewhat of a cross between Gene Wilder from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Shaggy from Scooby Doo. It’s actually his hair that looks crazy, but his gangly appearance coupled with his very awkward run / speed-walk style gallop makes the name Crazy Legs even more fitting.

Whenever I see him approaching, he quickly dashes to the other side of the street to avoid me.  My guess is that he lacks social skills because I refuse to believe I look THAT scary when I’m all sweaty and very raw-looking.



This morning, I ran hill repeats. To properly run these, you start by finding a GIGANTIC hill. Then, when you reach the top, you run back down and repeat this series six times. You finish it all off with a 30-minute cool down. Let’s just say I’d rather eat sardines over a plate of chopped liver, but it makes me a stronger runner and that’s why I do it.

So I geared myself up by setting my iPod to some blood-pumping music like Bring To Life by Effervescence Evanescence and then I sprinted up the last 50 meters of the hill. 

When I made my way down, there he was! Crazy Legs was approaching me in the distance.

I reached the bottom of the hill and before we could sharply collide, I turned around for my next ascent. Oh GREAT!  Now Crazy Legs thinks I’m running away from him!  I continued upward, reached the top of what seemed like Mt. Effervescence Everest, I GASPED, HUFFFED and PUFFED and made my way back down again.

 
And that’s when I realized my so-called stalker is afraid of me. Instead of chasing me down, like any crazy stalker would, Crazy Legs was running the opposite direction, away from me.

I was all ready to use my best Karate Kid moves on him too! 

 

But Crazy Legs was gone before I had a chance to say “Wax On, Wax Off”.

Alas, perhaps one day I’ll meet my so-called stalker. Who knows, he might just be a brilliant man with a charming and *effervescent personality. But until then, I think should change his name to ______. What do you think?

p.s. I’m a runner, not an illustrator…don’t hate.

p.p.s.  I put my game face on this week for the Dons over at Word Up Yo. 





Kudos to Liz, Natalie and KLZ for making us step up our WOW game.