Painted my nails tonight to ease my nerves. Didn’t consider that I might bite them right off once the real nervousness hits. (tomorrow morning at the latest, I reckon…)
Nervous
Tag Archives: running
I Believe I Can Fly
Sometimes running can feel like flying. It is – at least for some of us – a rather rare and thus highly precious feeling and one of the reasons that keep me going. Especially on the occasion when I feel like there’s not much left in the tank and then I end up soaring. Loving it!
Chicken Soup
I love all the animals I see when on runs or hikes. I cherish the young cows that are out on the pasture for the first time, curiously following hikers along the fence.
Same with horses, ponies and rabbits.
And then there are the chickens. We have lots of very lucky and undoubtedly happy chickens around here. They are allowed to roam large grassy areas, sometimes studded with bushes and trees. The chickens get moved around in a chicken-mobile so they can explore various surroundings.
For about a month now they have been in a field with low bushes in a tree nursery and when it last rained a puddle formed in one of the empty holes where a l bush had been dug out and the chickens used it as a bath. So precious, the sight was simply too sweet!
Sand Blasted
Not only is there pollen dust in the air that covers everything and gets into every crack, in addition there’s apparently Sahara dust in the air and the bone-dry north-easterly wind blows up billowing dust clouds. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself sand-blasted to the bones after a long jog.
Retirement and Promotion
On my 35k run last weekend I run one of my older running shoes into the ground (I felt like the ball of my foot and my big toe were running naked on the pavement) so it was time for some new ones. With the shops closed I had to fall back on my trusty brand that always works so I could order them online.
Now it’s one retired pair and two newly promoted pairs of running shoes in the app.
Thank you to my trusty retired shoes for their fantastic duty, you served me well and offered me many an inspiring hour outside under the blue, gray, wet, hot, cold… skies.
Achievements
In school I wasn’t a big fan of running unless there was a ball involved or some other higher goal than simply running around involved.
Then, almost 20 years ago, when traveling around the world my friend declared in Australia that we’s go and buy ourselves some proper running shoes as otherwise our beer consume might turn us into proper barrels. And that’s when my running career started. Thanks to my friend back then who made me puff and swear along Bondi beach.
Over that last three years one of my very dearest friends introduced me to another long loathed category, the races. I’ve completed between 20-30 races a year over the last 3 years. Never ever thought that would happen.
And the third big thing I always denied would ever happen came to pass this year when I thought I might have to step in for mentioned dear friend and actually started training for a marathon. It’s not that I ever doubted that I could do it if I properly trained, what hindered me was my other hobbies and interests. Since I’m a slow runner it takes me well over 2h to do a 20k training run. I don’t mind, my body doesn’t mind but after 2h I do start thinking “well, what else could I do now… this running around stiff is getting lame…”.
Well, enter 2020 and watch me while away a 4h run – my very first 35k ever!! And might very well be my last. That’s why I thought this was reason to celebrate – congrats to me for this huge achievement!!
Health Stimulus
The coronavirus undoubtedly is a dangerous, even fatal disease. But with people stuck at home and splendid weather outside and one of the few reasons to leave the house being exercising (alone) it seems a lot of people take to running these days. I guess it’s the closed gyms and many unclaimed resolves to finally start running. Now with home office and the dropped commute times it’s as if lots and lots of folks use the gained hours to go out for a run. At least today I saw more runners out there than on many an ordinary weekend day. Everybody and their mamma seemed to be chasing that finish line.
I say let’s hail all these athletes! Let’s celebrate one of the great things the shelter in place order has caused! A hurray on all you runners showing the world that you’re pulling through. Including the safe distance! I applaud you!!
Pit Stop
Sometimes if you go on a long run int the morning after a huge cup of coffee there’s a danger of that coffee washing water out of the body that wants out. And the most obvious way – before you start sweating enough – is out of your bladder. So yes, I had to pee on my run lately and there wasn’t a very suitable spot along the way. But since it was still relatively early and no one was to be seen I decided to risk just hiding between some trees as I would certainly see approaching hikers and joggers on time. I didn’t consider the bikers though and their increased speed in comparison to people afoot. Well, and that’s how I met a lovely couple who was all charming about it and gave me a wave that I happily returned.
Good thing I don’t embarrass easily…
Natural Social Distancing
On my solo run today I noticed that animals keep a “natural social distance”, though that might have different reasons.
The Frog, the Ball and I
Monday saw some torrential rain around where I live but – being my own hero and all – that didn’t keep me from going out for an hour long run… while my cats, the frog and the ball in the drawing, decided to stay put on the cozy warm DRY bed…
Now isn’t that some real kickass determination I showed on a public holiday??!? 😀
samstarbucks 