bike danger

So another beautiful night out.  I got in four miles this evening.  I was thinking that as runners we really need to be aware of our surroundings.  We have to know where the cars are when we are on the road.  We have to look out for potholes.

Nobody wants a twisted ankle.  

We have to look out for scary people.  

Nobody likes scary people.  

Unless you are a scary person, then you are probably ok with other scary people.  

Then there are the off leash dogs.  

Please..I love dogs, but I like them more when they are attached to a leash and an owner is nearby. Random dogs are a bit frightening.

Well as I was running today I realized there is a hidden danger that we as runners might not think of...the small cute four year old boy.  Yeah he looks harmless.  He may even look all cute and smiley, but we all need to watch out!  He is dangerous, especially when he is armed with a new two wheel bike!

These were not the actual boys..but I'm sure you can imagine the speed demons!

He likes speed!  He just may not have the best steering yet!  He also was living on the edge..yeah no helmet.  You know that is trouble if he is speeding along without a helmet!  As I was running I came across this scary cute boy on his little bike as he was riding straight for me.  He rode off the curb of the playground straight for me!  What did I do to this kid?  I didn't want to test out his steering abilities so I jumped out of the way and picked up my pace a bit.  Yeah, watch out for those little speedsters..they are out to get us runners!

Good People

Tragedy can happen anywhere and at anytime.  Monday was supposed to be one of those days where you have to pinch yourself to remind yourself that it was real.  Marathon Monday!  Many people have this race on their bucket list.  Runners trained months to qualify for Boston and many were running for their first time.  Then the unthinkable happened.  I sat watching the coverage along with everyone else not quite able to wrap my head around what had happened.  How can you ruin people's perfect day?  How can you cause so much trauma to runner's support systems (family and friends) and in many cases to peoples legs.  The very thing that just carried them 26.2 miles!  It just baffles me!

As I was talking to different people on Tuesday, I realized that you can't focus on the bad things in life..but the good that comes out of life.  I know easier said than done since I wasn't there.  One co-worker asked me how the running community was feeling after Monday.  My answer, the same as most people, shocked, sad, angry.  Another co-worker told me how mad she was, to which I told her you can't focus on the bad.  Bad things happen and there is not much we can do.  What you need to focus on was the fact that it was amazing how quickly people responded.  How after running 26.2 miles a doctor turned around after he finished and dug deep to help where needed.  People came together Monday afternoon and helped each other out.  Shop keepers were giving runners orange juice as they were huddled on the sidewalk in shock. It was a great reminder of how awesome runners and people in general can be.  It is easy to focus on a bad decision we have made, or something bad that happened, but sometimes we just have to focus on the good. Sometimes we learn the most about ourselves and others when we are faced with the unexpected.  We have the opportunity to choose how we deal with both good and bad things that happen in life.  It is always easy to accept the praise and awards whether it is from a race well ran, a new PR or a job well done.  What may be a bit more difficult is to look for the good in a dark time.  Well, looks like many runners are looking for the good.  Tonight I went to run at run club.  We had a moment of silence before we took off.  I wore one of my many race t'shirt in honor of Boston.

There is something just great about hanging out with runners!  My friend Rob talked about how I shouldn't be nervous for my first full and that I will do great!  We also talked about how I'm not a hugger but I do hug at run club.  Something about friendly runners makes me more comfortable with hugs!

My friend David got his shirt from running 10 runs at run club!  He was very excited!

All of this reminds me that I am proud to call myself a runner!

Good Job!

Headed out for a 4 mile run in the heat and humidity.  I did wait until 7:30 thinking it would cool down some, but really it was still hot.  The only thing that changed was that the sun wasn't on top of me so I did have the  shade of the buildings to run in.  I figured today was going to be "cooler" than tomorrow so I might as well run today.  Although tomorrow is Tuesday so I will still end up running in the heat at run club. 

While I was running I notice an odd issue.  My feet were starting to burn.  And of course for most of my run all I could think of is how hot my feet were.  Then all I could think about is that those poor runners at Badwater were running in much hotter feeling feet than my feet.  I guess I need to try some thinner socks.  Hopefully that will help.  I do love my cushiony balega socks. 

So I guess I need to go back to my feeture elite socks.  How do those Badwater runners do it?  A few miles and I was ready to try barefoot running.  Then I thought about the rocks on the road and quickly changed my mind.  My feet do not like it rough. 

While I was running I saw one of my neighbors running up the huge hill that I was running down.  I have seen him run before (or I may have seen him in his yard..not sure.)  Anyway, I was heading down the hill, hating my feet and he was running up the hill.  As he was pushing on up the hill he turns and says "good job!"  Little did he know he just made my run!  Its funny how some of the simplest things that people say really has an impact.  It just put a little skip in my step.  Most times I find that runners will either

A.  ignore me

B. give me the little head nod

C. the smile and keep running.

I don't ever normally get "good job" while I'm running.  Not sure if it was the look on my face.  I tend to look like I hate life during my runs.  Sometimes I actually hate life, other times I don't realize that I look like I hate life.  Or if he is always so nice to other runners.  Whatever the case, thanks for making my run!  I think I am going to start to tell other runners "Good Job!"

So to all of you runners, Good job!  Keep on running!