I was always hoping that eventually it would be more difficult for me to update my blog then for me to actually go for the runs which I blog about. That time has arrived much quicker than I anticipated. I did not expect to be running today. Monday's are not a good day for me. My classes end at 4 and by 6 I need to be at a weekly movie screen for my film analysis class. I was spending the entire day thinking that this would finally be the day that my running schedule would be interrupted by a legitimate excuse. However, it's comforting to know that now even logic is not stopping me from my run. I did decrease the distance of this run to be able to fit in the time. The purpose of this run would be to keep myself fresh. Pretty much a day of running just for the sake of running. But things changed through the run.
Before my run, I experienced another pain that frequents a runner that I have forgotten about. This pain is a more of a physical pain than any other. Pardon me if I get to graphic, but this pain is nipple chaffage. It seems the day before, when running in a wet cotton shirt, I scarred the tip of my nipple severely. I answered this cry of pain by putting on one of sophisticated Dri-Fit running shirts, something I never though I would have to do again. I guess I will be experiencing these little pieces of nostalgia, however painful or glorious, for weeks to come now.
I began running on River Avenue, the same street that I had my rainy revelation on the day before. This time it was much better weather and much better spirits. I began the run at very decent pace. Enough to seem a little bit uncomfortable, which is a very admirable level to run at, especially when that run is only two miles. This was time that a light amount of fear began to strike me. The cough that was present for moments after my run yesterday but then gone for the remainder of the night, resurfaced. I began to regret running in the cold rain the day before but I remembered something that my high school cross country coach said to me, "You can't catch a cold just by being cold. That is only a myth. You catch it from getting a virus." It could be argued that our coach just wanted us to avoid us making excuses. However, Coach Ford was a very practical man. I couldn't see him risking the health of runners just for one practice. Therefore, I stuck by his philosophy, cleared my throat, and kept on moving.
I never saw the cough again on that run. As I took the turn past a Shell gas station, I looked at my watch and saw a very low number. I won't say what it was because it would be irrelevant considering the fact that I had no knowledge of the location of the mile markers, but it was lower than it usually was. Therefore, I powered through the downhill street and took a left at the bars that I frequent on several weekends a year. I didn't look at the watch for the rest of the run, there was no need to, I had no idea how far I was running. I only knew that the end of it was 2 miles so that's what I kept going for.
I took a turn onto Eaton street, which is across from the School and where there is a large amount of off-campus housing. Even though this portion of the run is uphill, I like to go extremely fast just to show off to some friends that might know me. Although it is admirable to be humble, you have to be a little bit arrogant to be successful at running. Sometimes, its the only motivation that one can achieve, when you got nothing else but weak legs and a stomach stitch. You just have to make sure this arrogance is brought on subtly and doesn't make you seem like an asshole.
After Eaton, I continued to power over the crest of the hill. I could see Di Trag in my sight which tempted me to look at my watch, I was filled with joy to find 13 minutes there, but also it drove me to worry as my goal now changed desperately to achieve a 2 mile run within 14 minutes. As I crawled up the stone stairs and arrived on campus, I click my watch to see 13:55. This is not an amazing time for 2 miles, but it's one of the best times I have seen for that distance in a while, and that's a lofty accomplishment in any runner's book.
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