Saturday, January 23, 2010

The skies have parted


The big rain storm has subsided and there is blue all around the atmosphere, great day for a run. I decided to do a real 5K this morning, (actually going on Google maps to draw out the course). I wanted to see where I'm at physically and if I could complete the daunting length without passing out and splatting on the pavement. I have signed up for an official 5K on Feb 20, just a little less than a month away; I really needed to try this out. When I visualized the half-way point and knew where my steps would take me, it was much easier to keep going. In contrast, when I didn’t have a specific goal or course it seemed like I could be going anywhere for no particular reason. I could write so many cheesy, cliché', motivational, life-skill speeches using running as a metaphor. "The longest journey begins with a single step," "Never begin a course until you can imagine the finish line," "Toughness isn't about how far you go, but how many times your hips jiggle in the ambivalent breeze." I made up that last one. The run went really well, and I burned a LOT of calories--by the end my hair was soaked like a cafeteria mop, and smelled like one too. Of course I encountered the snobbish marathon types; two in particular who jumped off the sidewalk and onto the street as if there was not enough room for their pencil-figures and my hippo-hips on the same path, pooh-pooh on you! Oh and I saw these eerie little stone garden statues. They looked like children who stared into the eyes of medusa to be trapped in their hard cages for eternity. At least have happy-looking children in your garden! One little girl was actually pouting against a brick wall with tears chiseled on her face. Sad! Creepy! I prefer the jovial gnomes with bright colored, pointy slippers. As I reached the finish line there was a large cumulus cloud that looked like a fat cheerleader in an excited stance with her pom-pom raised high in praise of my success. I looked away and chuckled and when I reached my front porch the cloud morphed into a big thumbs up, I know you don't believe me; I should have taken a picture. It was a great surprise, like someone looking out for me; knowing that I needed just a little more "At' a girl" for finishing the run. It feels nice to receive good vibes from above, and I hope they keep coming my way.

6 comments:

  1. Bina-
    Keep it up. Try to think happy thoughts for the marathon running women. If you think negative thoughts towards them it may show on your face. You don't know what problems they have, what they are working out in their head as they run, so be nice to the skinny runner. That will be you soon, just you wait. I know my Baner, it's all or nothing. You're not one to just loose 5 lbs and give up, you will go past your goal.
    Keep it up - a 5K - that is awesome!!!!

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  2. Suz I AM JOKING ABOUT THE SKINNY Ladies, just let it be.

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  3. Bina, I know you are joking, but there is always some truth in a joke. and most of the time i want to punch off their heads too, but it doesn't help me have a good run. the thing is, they are in such good shape that they must feel so good when they run. that's why i get jealous - they move like gazelles and i'm running like a constipated pit bull.

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  4. Good luck on the 5k-- maybe if I can whip myself in shape by then I could do it with you.....we'll see. You'll have to give me info.

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  5. Good job bina! I definitely like lawn gnomes. Right now I have 3 and 4 mushrooms to match... and a bird bath. Am I turning into a grandma before I turn 30? ha!

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  6. Hi Christina! It's Ashley Spencer. I saw that you are using Google Maps to map your runs and wanted to let you know about my favorite site to map out runs. It's mapmyrun.com. You may already know about it, but if not, I think you will really like it. Keep up the great work! Lovin' your blog, you are hilarious.

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