Look Revisited

I ran again yesterday. Outside. Don’t ask me how cold it was because I’m really not sure. I do know that the wind brought tears to my eyes and spit froze at the corners of my mouth. At first I thought I was stupid for wearing just a sirsy sweatshirt and UnderArmor for heat but it worked out. My head should have held a hat, though. Sad, because I have one just for this sort of outdoor thing. I don’t know what made me do it, but when I stepped out the door I decided to revisit Look. I have a prejudice against the place just because I can remember the very instance I felt my knee twinge in that park. I can see the exact piece of parking lot where I felt the pain. Unbeknown to me, Look has become my nemesis. My theater of pain. To ward off the jinx I ran in the opposite loop I’m used to. It felt like cheating because duck pond hill was on the down this way. I told myself it was too cold to fool around with remorse.

Why is it that I used to be uncomfortable with the first ten of running; now it’s 20 minutes of I-want-To-Quit? I think I had to go two miles before I found happiness in my stride. “One. One, Two, Seven, Four.” The off-count made me giggle and that made things a little easier. BubbleGum to ease the pressure. ‘Vultures’ pushed me faster and the homeward stretch was easier. By the time I got home I had snot running down my beet-red face, but at least I made it out. And back. Thanks, JCM.

Bottom line: 3.6 in 35 minutes.