Run #7 - May 6th, 2012

In an attempt to shake things up after my last run and hopefully get more motivation, I finally decided to map out a loop for my journey. Now this might seem like a basic concept to some of the more experienced runners out there, but I really don't like surprises and don't want to get stuck running through a neighborhood I am unfamiliar with or knowing where a sidewalk might suddenly end. And because I don't like to think about running, I never really take the time to plan these things out in advance. Instead of mapping out a loop, I usually just run down the street for a bit, until I hit a mile or two, and then turn around and come back.

So today I mapped out a 4 mile loop, ate a little breakfast, and went out for a morning run. I started off with my usual path, down the big hill, past the meadow and up the big hill, but instead of turning 180 degrees, I decided to turn 90 degrees and started to tackle my first loop. I ran a mile down a road I had never traveled on before and realized it was a gorgeous tree lined street, with lovely houses. There was some horse shit to avoid on the pavement, but I enjoyed all of the trees.

A mile later, I turned on a much busier street, knowing that this would be the mile that would bring me home. What I hadn't planned for was the number of the street lights and traffic I would be running parallel with. Every few minutes, I had to stop at another light and wait for the sexist racist man to signal permission for me to continue on my way. At one point, I may have been screaming at a Saturn, who was trying to force me to run against the signal, into oncoming traffic. I was hot, sweaty and trying to be a law abiding citizen and this woman starts waving me on (when I can't go) and then leans out of her car window and is yelling at me to cross, so then she won't have to wait for me. I look up at the signal and the giant red hand is still giving me the 'no go'. I point to the sign and the oncoming traffic, but she keeps waving and yelling. So finally the Italian in my comes out, my hands start waving back, and explicit language flow from my lips. I actually shocked myself as well as the lady and before I knew it, the sexist racist man appeared on the signal, thus giving me my freedom to run again. I sprinted back home, a bit pissed off and a bit ashamed. Ultimately blaming my language on the evils of running.

Lesson Learned: Run down a less busy street and keep my hand over my mouth
Distance: 4.14 miles
Time: 46:54 (I blame some of the slowness on the traffic lights)