Day 21

LAWWWD!!! If walking/running in the rain is wrong, I don’t want to be right! Can I get a witness?

So I was up at 4:30 am. I have no idea why I don’t sleep like a normal person. I was up until about 2 am and then I wake up at 4:30 am like I’m in the military or something. I force myself back to sleep and then wake up again at 6:28 am. I didn’t have to be a chauffeur for my son today so I knew I had a little extra time to sleep. I couldn’t sleep too long because of Sara (my puppy).  I got out of bed, got myself together, fed and played with Sara for a few minutes and then headed out.

Now when I looked out the window prior to going outside, I did see that it was cloudy out but I hadn’t realized it was in fact raining. When I opened my garage door and finally saw that it was indeed raining out, I immediately became depressed at the thought of having to spend my morning exercise regime in the basement. Remember that? Day 18? I get a tick every time I think about it. I thought to myself as I stared out of the garage door “@$# that!” and proceeded to my truck. As I drove to the track, I remembered how much I loved running in the rain as a child and said out loud “This is going to be fun!”

Now, for all of you avid runners who have run in the rain before don’t laugh at how this worked out. None of you have been giving me any tips on this journey. I know you’re reading because I get comments on my Twitter and Facebook page but I’d rather have them HERE where they belong so everyone can benefit from them. So Share the knowledge gosh darnit!

When I get to the track, I waited in my car for about 5 minutes to see if the rain would subside and when I saw that it wasn’t I figured to just head out. I started my handy dandy Nike + app, wrapped my phone in a small bag I had in the truck and heading over to the track. As I approached the first entrance to the track, I saw two dogs a few feet away. Great. Who in the HELL let their dogs on the track without supervision? I was still a ways off so I couldn’t tell what kind of dogs they were. They were definitely not small dogs so I walked back to my truck and thought of what I had inside of it that could serve as a weapon in case Fido and Fluffy weren’t too friendly. I think I am the only person in the history of running who has problems with canines on a track field. Only me I tell you.

I looked through my truck and found a small umbrella that I kept in the trunk and figured it would do. I could knock one of those dogs upside the hide with the umbrella if need be. I walk back to the track entrance and went in. Fido and Fluffy turned out to be punks or maybe just friendly. I didn’t care which as long as they left me alone. As I walked by, they just stared at me as if to say, “Lady, do you know it’s raining?” I kept walking and headed into the second entrance, which led to the actual track field.

I hung the umbrella on the fence just past the entrance gate and started my walk. While I walked, I enjoyed the rain hitting my face and I loved how cool the air felt.  I felt like I was getting energy from the rain. After walking around the track one full time to warm up, I went into a jog. Then just as I started running, or maybe because it was due to me running, it seemed the rain began to come down harder. That’s when I realized that things were about to get hectic. The rain was beating against my face, running into my eyes (which mixed with hair care products caused stinging) and was going into my mouth. All I could think about was all of that acid rain and hair oil getting into my eyes and mouth and it contaminating me. Did I tell you all I have OCD? Yeah, well. It kicked in. I picked up my pace and figured I’d just run back to my car and call it a day. As I continued running, I squinted through the rain to see how far the entrance was and prayed I got there before I went blind from the acid rain and hair care products running into my eyes.

As I ran around the track eager to get to the entrance, I was annoyed that the rain was going to stop my morning exercise. I thought about how when I ran in the rain as a child, it was never this difficult. I honestly believe that when we were children, we were super heroes or something because I can’t do HALF of the things I did as a child as an adult.  Just as I was about to drown right there on the track field from the rain going into my mouth and up my nose and the fact that I had never ran a full lap around the track, I saw through squinted eyes that the entrance to the track field was close.  As I slowed down to end my run/walk for the morning I saw it hanging there on the fence. It was like a light was shining down on it from heaven and harps were playing in the background as I stared at it. My umbrella!  I didn’t have to end my walk/run. I just had to get an umbrella. Duh! Who knew?

Now I don’t want anyone to think I’m a graduate of the smaller bus ride to school as a child, but I told you all when I am run/walking in the morning on that track, that is all I focus on. My mind is on RUN/WALK.  Nothing else. Some how, some way, some one made sure that umbrella was right there because I was so focused on running, I didn’t realize that the rain may be a problem. Ok, go ahead and laugh. I am. And be honest, how many of you remembered I had left that umbrella there?

Anyway, I grabbed my umbrella and continued my laps. It was difficult to run holding the umbrella so I decided to just walk as fast as I could for the remainder of my laps. Since I didn’t run at all after those first two laps, I added an additional lap.  I did 9 laps today. I walked the outer lap so ended up walking a total of 2.46 miles.  Once I got to the second to last lap, the rain subsided and became a light drizzle again. I folded up my umbrella and again enjoyed walking in the rain like I did as a child. It felt so good! And since it was raining, I had the track to myself (aside from Fido and Fluffy). I sang the songs from my Iphone loud and proud whilst I walked.

Well folks, this was a lengthy post and I have some work to do. If you’ve never run in the rain, try it. It’s fun. Just remember to bring an umbrella in case it starts raining heavily. God didn’t create umbrellas for us to just knock dogs over the head with them.

Have a great day. Until tomorrow…

Ms. P.

P. S.

By the way, you know 21 days is 3 weeks right? I’m THREE WEEKS IN! YAY!