A few of us here at HotPads have signed up to run the Army Ten-Miler in a few weeks. It is a fundraiser for Soldiers and their Families here in DC. We have had a pretty good showings at other events including accidentally winning a walkathon last October because we thought it was a race.
So, I have started to get back into running shape in order to not embarrass myself. As of last night, my training is on an indefinite hold after three consecutive days of escalating trauma to self.
Here is my brief tale of woe:
1) This past Saturday I decided to go for a run during Hurricane Hanna, so I guess I was asking for trouble. But no, I was not washed away with a flash flood or hit with large debris, it was a fairly tame storm other than lots of rain. I was running on Georgetown's campus when I a group of wet and muddy students spotted me. They all turned on me pointing and chanting "Do It" "Do It"... I had no idea what was going on and then I saw the slip and slide, with flashes of Freshman year stunts flashing in my brain...and facing that kind of pressure, I guess I had no other choice than to hit that slip and slide as fast as a could travelling 20 feet past the end of the slide on the flooded quad, knocking the wind out of my lungs, swallowing rain and mud, and of course getting up and giving a victorious fist pump to the throng before heading on my way.
2) HotPads' office is in the heart of Georgetown right on the C&O Canal. You can go out our door and run for 180 miles without hitting a road but it is also half a block from the corner of M and Wisconsin which is the epicenter of all the shops and restaurants. On Sunday, I went on a 12.5 mile run... its been a while since I have gone this type of distance and forgot some of the affects it can have on the body, particulary soft tissue. 3/4 of the way through I knew I was doomed... my nipples had been rubbed raw by my swish swashing shirt, and had begun to bleed. It was not long before I looked like the victim of a gangland style hit...perfectly symmetrical though. Its not bad when you are running. I passed people fast enough they could not figure out what happened. But after the run, as I walked amongst the Sunday shoppers, diners, and tourists... I saw face after face of disgust, bewilderment, anxiousness, and distress.
3) On Monday evening after work I set off for a 4 miler on the Canal again. I was decidedly not going to experience what I had on Sunday, so I ran with my shirt off. Astonishingly I saw many of the same facial expressions due to this decision. As I ran it became pretty dark and I could not see the path all that well. All of a sudden a snake jumped and wrapped itself around my right leg and I had to kick it off. I must have stepped on its tail causing this reaction...but, from my perspective I was attacked! To actually feel the slithery scales on my skin was too much. I may have screamed... (I did). Finishing out my run I jumped at the sight of every shady, rock, and twig. I will never be the same person again.
Hope this was not too long, I just had to get this off my chest.
That is not making it easier for me to start, I mean CONTINUE, my training. Fist pump
Posted by: Colleen Corgan | Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 10:18 AM