Running Outside

Running outside on a cold spring morning before the sun rises rocks. You hot flash and get superchilled at the same time so everything evens out. No one can see you struggling, or your wrinkles, so you can believe for 45 minutes that you are totally jacked.

Cookie and I have had two early morning "running" dates recently (on the first I was still recovering from bronchitis, hence the quotation marks). I'm pretty sure on both occasions she got a kink in her neck looking over her shoulder back at me, but I'm getting stronger. Going with a friend who is in way better condition than I'll ever be is both a challenge and an inspriation. I appreciate her putting up with me. I appreciate that ANYONE puts up with me.

There is something to knowing others are watching you. My form and pace improve if I know a car, or other runners, or a turtle are passing me. I do the same thing at work. I walk up to the third floor and if there are people in the conference room at the top of the landing I run up the last few steps like "hey no problem". This is called "training" - pushing yourself at the end of the race. Actually, I know for certain this is really just showing off.

Running outside before dawn is also a better/harder workout than running on the treadmill because you have to deal with things like hills and drainage grates and road debris and traffic and breathing in bugs and frozen snot and rain and wind and the fact that it's still dark out so you can't see a fucking thing. Who ever said exercise was boring???

I like to run on the Mohawk Trail. For a couple of years now I would start at the parking lot by the old train station and plod down to the Evil Hill by GE and back again. When I die I had planned to donate funds for a water fountain at the foot of the Evil Hill, halfway through the run, because I was dying for a drink of water at this point and, unlike a treadmill, I did not have a water bottle conveniently at hand. Ah, but I am SO brilliant (and hence now with more money to spend while I'm still alive). One day last summer the train station parking lot was full - some kind of stupid event - so I parked instead at Lock 7, about a quarter of the way down the run. I ran to the base of the Evil Hill. I headed back towards the train station and HEY I'M NOW AT THE HALF WAY POINT AND MY CAR IS THERE I CAN HAVE A DRINK OF WATER AND CONTINUE ON. An ephiphany for sure. Where is my brain when I need it?

Running outside has the added benefits of fresh air, baby cows at the Crossings in Colonie, deer eating tulips in your neighbors yard, beautiful spring colors, and the freedom to fart and spit without disturbing the fat man on the next treadmill.

I love spring, don't you???