I can count on one hand how many times I've gone running this summer. In July I think I ran once. Yes, one measly time. This month I've gone running twice - the first one was two weeks ago in which I barely made it to the 1.5 miles marker at Burke Lake Park before I decided to turn around and head back. Run, walk, run, walk - gasp, gasp - as countless young, fit, tanned runners passed me in both directions. I felt all of my 42 years at that point.
I had hoped that yesterday would be different. There was a nice cool breeze blowing and I'd actually managed to drag myself out of bed before 8 a.m. after staying up past midnight. I had high hopes. Oh well.
I think I just need to sign up for something - maybe a 5K in September or October - so that I have a goal. I'd like to be able to run the whole way around Burke Lake Park by mid-September, close to 4.5 miles.
On that note, here is an account of my first attempt to circle Burke Lake back when I first started running a few years ago. Perhaps this will motivate me . . .
My morning run around Burke Lake - a story of triumph (and near death from exhaustion)
written on Friday, August 14, 2009 ·
9:00 a.m. - Drop Jack off at Nature Secrets Camp at Burke Lake. Stalk parents in parking lot in search of sunscreen and bug spray. The excitement of running in nature resulted in my forgetting to apply said sprays and lotions on my son this morning before leaving the house.
9:05 a.m. - Found a parent to lend me lotion and spray - can go running now without feeling guilty about Jack possibly burning to a crisp and getting devoured by mosquitos.
9:15 a.m. - Hair tied back, muscles sufficiently stretched, here we go! Plan to run to 1.5 mile marker and turn around to complete my usual 3 miles. no problem.
9:25 a.m. - This feels easy - nice and shady, no big hills, maybe I'll run past the 1.5 mile marker.
9:27 a.m. - Pass 1 mile marker - looking at beautiful lake - this lake doesn't look that big, I'll bet I can get all the way around it. Why not? Still feeling pretty good at this point.
9:35 a.m. - Pass 1.5 mile marker - feeling a little hot and sweaty, but now that I've passed it, feel like I should keep going. What else do I have to do this morning?
9:40 a.m. - Noticing that I am being passed by other runners. Feeling very slow. A very tan, fit 20-something girl passes me in the opposite direction. Da*& it, I'm not that old - I can do this!
9:42 a.m.- Pass 2 mile marker - feeling thirsty, hot, sweaty. Noticing that other runners are carrying bottles of water - cursing self for not doing same. Look out at lake. At this point turning around seems pointless - after all, it's only another 2.5 miles to get around the lake. How hard can it be? Who needs water anyway?
9:44 a.m. - Feeling envious of the middle aged ladies leisurely walking around the lake, pointing out various plants to each other.
9:55 a.m. - Pass 3 mile marker - feeling exhausted. Wishing I had water. I could swear that runners who passed me earlier are passing me again. Am I that slow or am I hallucinating? How long does it take for dehydration to set in? Only 1.5 miles to go, but I feel like the opposite side of the lake has not moved. Where the heck am I anyway???
10:03 a.m. - Suddenly out on a terribly sunny stretch with no shade in sight. What kind of cruel joke is this to put a path in the blazing sun during the last mile of the run?? Water, I need water. Hip flexors start to cramp. Not running so much as skipping, limping, something. But if I stop to walk it will take even longer to get back to the car. I press on.
10:10 a.m. - alleluia - the 4 mile marker!!! Tan 20-something girl passes me again - what is she doing, running around the lake 10 times? Not paying attention and almost run smack into a dad pushing his kid on her tricycle - instead of dirty look dad just smiles and waves. Restores faith in humanity.
10:15 a.m. - an hour later - I am back at my car - sweaty, panting, disheveled, limping. Jack's camp counselor is standing nearby - I smile and wave and say triumphantly "I just ran around the whole lake!!" She smiles back and says - "oh, yeah, I do that all the time. It's great." Grrrrrr.
10:20 a.m. - Finally driving home, air conditioning blasting, tired but elated - farthest I've ever run without stopping. 4.5 miles!!!!!!
9:05 a.m. - Found a parent to lend me lotion and spray - can go running now without feeling guilty about Jack possibly burning to a crisp and getting devoured by mosquitos.
9:15 a.m. - Hair tied back, muscles sufficiently stretched, here we go! Plan to run to 1.5 mile marker and turn around to complete my usual 3 miles. no problem.
9:25 a.m. - This feels easy - nice and shady, no big hills, maybe I'll run past the 1.5 mile marker.
9:27 a.m. - Pass 1 mile marker - looking at beautiful lake - this lake doesn't look that big, I'll bet I can get all the way around it. Why not? Still feeling pretty good at this point.
9:35 a.m. - Pass 1.5 mile marker - feeling a little hot and sweaty, but now that I've passed it, feel like I should keep going. What else do I have to do this morning?
9:40 a.m. - Noticing that I am being passed by other runners. Feeling very slow. A very tan, fit 20-something girl passes me in the opposite direction. Da*& it, I'm not that old - I can do this!
9:42 a.m.- Pass 2 mile marker - feeling thirsty, hot, sweaty. Noticing that other runners are carrying bottles of water - cursing self for not doing same. Look out at lake. At this point turning around seems pointless - after all, it's only another 2.5 miles to get around the lake. How hard can it be? Who needs water anyway?
9:44 a.m. - Feeling envious of the middle aged ladies leisurely walking around the lake, pointing out various plants to each other.
9:55 a.m. - Pass 3 mile marker - feeling exhausted. Wishing I had water. I could swear that runners who passed me earlier are passing me again. Am I that slow or am I hallucinating? How long does it take for dehydration to set in? Only 1.5 miles to go, but I feel like the opposite side of the lake has not moved. Where the heck am I anyway???
10:03 a.m. - Suddenly out on a terribly sunny stretch with no shade in sight. What kind of cruel joke is this to put a path in the blazing sun during the last mile of the run?? Water, I need water. Hip flexors start to cramp. Not running so much as skipping, limping, something. But if I stop to walk it will take even longer to get back to the car. I press on.
10:10 a.m. - alleluia - the 4 mile marker!!! Tan 20-something girl passes me again - what is she doing, running around the lake 10 times? Not paying attention and almost run smack into a dad pushing his kid on her tricycle - instead of dirty look dad just smiles and waves. Restores faith in humanity.
10:15 a.m. - an hour later - I am back at my car - sweaty, panting, disheveled, limping. Jack's camp counselor is standing nearby - I smile and wave and say triumphantly "I just ran around the whole lake!!" She smiles back and says - "oh, yeah, I do that all the time. It's great." Grrrrrr.
10:20 a.m. - Finally driving home, air conditioning blasting, tired but elated - farthest I've ever run without stopping. 4.5 miles!!!!!!
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| How I look now when I run . . . |
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| How I hope to look in about 6 weeks when I run . . . |
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