The more inclement the weather, the better the run

courtesy of [someone else]

I've worked myself into an every-other-day running routine that suits me well. Yesterday was a running day, and I'd been looking forward to it all day. So when I stepped outside in my running shoes (yes, back to those) and found that the summery day had turned an ominous shade of--shall we say, dark charcoal--I was not to be deterred. I cranked up Soulja Boy, loosened up my calves, and hustled over toward the Reservoir. Here is how the next 40 minutes unfolded:

00:00:37 - Woman down. She's literally lying across the dirt, immobile, face contorted in pain. Two or three others appear to be tending to her. I pause Soulja Boy and RunKeeper (the running app on my iPhone) and slow down to offer help but I get a thumbs-up from one of the attendants. Everything's under control. Soulja Boy resumed.

00:07:28 - RunKeeper pipes up to inform me that I've covered one-quarter of a mile, at which point I realize I never un-paused it.  Damn.  Un-pause.

00:09:15 - The whispered premonition of a side ache is officially a full-blown side ache.  No!  Why is this happening?  I shouldn't have drunk so much water.  Proceed to violently prod general intestinal region while producing cough-like noises and continuing to run. This draws side glances from a couple running the opposite direction.

00:15:23 - Circle back to immobile woman. This time EMT is there, too. My side ache is back and I slow to a walk, massaging something in the general vicinity of the small intestine. Maybe.

00:23:00 - Everything going swimmingly.  I'm back in action!  Picking up the pace.

00:26:54 - Cracks of thunder and a flash of lightening.  I'm on the side of the reservoir opposite my apartment.  A grin spreads across my face.

00:28:06 - Rain falling freely. I try to run under trees and begin to wonder whether there's any chance my iPhone might be waterproof.

00:33:16 - Rain is starting to soak through my clothes. There doesn't appear to be anybody else on the running track. Even the EMT is gone!  I'm getting to the highpoint of my run and have no desire to cut it short, but I'm concerned about my iPhone.  So I take off my t-shirt and wrap it around the phone.

00:36:00 - Still running.  Euphoria.  Splashing through puddles.  A couple wayward glances from male runners.  So I'm not the only one left after all.

00:40:00 - Throw open the door to my apartment, kick off my shoes, and jump in the shower. Best run ever!  Or second best, first being last year's blizzard run.

Runnerly yours,

Marisa <3