October 10, 2013

A run before sunrise

My day started pretty early this morning. I woke up before 6:00, and couldn't fall back asleep. I was too impatient to wait for sunrise to head outside for my run, so I decided to run in the dark. I don't know why I'm so scared to run in the dark; I used to do it all the time the first year that I started running. I don't have a headlamp, so I just put on my reflective vest. It was 43 degrees this morning, so I wore long sleeves and my running tights.


It was pitch black outside, and street lights are scarce. There aren't ANY street lights along my favorite route, so I had to alter my route a bit. I had six miles at an easy pace on the schedule. As soon as I started running, I got halfway down my street and then decided to turn around and go get my pepper spray. I felt much more comfortable when I had that with me, but it was still scary!

I kept picturing all of the roadkill on the side of the road, and hoped I wasn't stepping on any of it. My pace was much slower than I thought, probably because I was being so careful with my footing. I decided that I really don't like running in the dark!


When I got home, I got ready to take a shower, and Paolo followed me into the bathroom, like usual. He likes to wait for me to get out of the shower, because then he goes inside to drink the water off the floor of the shower. I have no idea why he does this--I give him fresh water every day! Today, though, I decided to try something different. I put him in the bathtub, and turned on the cold water to just a very tiny stream. Paolo was thrilled.


I figured he would take a drink and then jump out. When I got out of the shower, he was still in there. I got dressed, and blew my hair dry. He was still there, lapping at the water. He finally got out, after about 35 minutes.

I finished packing for the weekend, and got everything loaded into the car. I picked the boys up from my parents' house (they spent the night there), and then we were off. The trip to my sister's house is a little over six hours. I was worried about doing the trip on my own (well, alone with the kids). It ended up feeling like a very long drive, but we made it. The boys were SO well-behaved. I am truly shocked at how good they were.

We stopped for lunch at Subway (I wanted my now-daily bagel, but there aren't ANY options along the Ohio/Indiana turnpike), but other than that we were in the car the whole time, and I was so achy when we finally got to Jeanie's. My butt hurt from sitting so long. I don't even want to think about what the drive home will be like, after having run 26.2 miles!

17 comments:

  1. Is your kitty a ragdoll? He looks like it. One of my cats loves to drink from the kitchen faucet.

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  2. I only run in the morning, and at least 1/2 the year it is very dark. Our high school track doesn't keep the lights on late at night or early in the morning to save money. There aren't many street lights anywhere that I might run either, and so I've come to love my head lamp.

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  3. I actually love running in the dark! It's soothing! Good luck!

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  4. I like running in the dark in my neighborhood, but I don't venture outside of it, because it's a road next to a heavily wooded area with no houses, and it freaks me out. My cat does the same thing! She doesn't drink out of her water dish, although I change it daily! She drinks from the drip we haven't fixed in one of our bathrooms, and goes in every time I take a shower or bath. She's actually fallen in the tub with me, because she likes to sit on the edge of the tub when I take a bath.

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  5. A good head lamp makes all the difference. See you in Chicago!!!! I'm going tomorrow.

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  6. I find I run faster in the dark...most likely because I am running from all the shadow beasts. Ha.

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  7. I am scared to get out in the dark, I wish I would but I wait for the sun :)

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  8. Welcome to my world - running in the dark. At least on weekdays.

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  9. I don't find time to run.. I make time to run

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  10. How old are your kids? six hours drive? one hour is long enough with my boys!

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  11. I find that I am way too anxious when I run in the dark and I usually quit early. I guess I've read too many Lisa Gardner books!

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  12. my cats wait on the bathroom sink for their water drip (well the girls do anyway, my boy cat cant figure out what they are doing on the sink). i get told how pretty i am when i walk out of the shower, cause they really want a drink.
    good luck with the race :) i hope you meet some wonderful people.

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  13. One of my cats always beats us to the bathroom so we can open the faucet a little bit for her. She loves fresh water and she does it everytime I go into the bathroom lol. Oh and one of my dogs loves going into the bathroom because she really likes to lick the water left in the shower too lol funny pets.

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  14. Is Paolo running Chicago too? I think he's hydrating!

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  15. carolyn kirchenstienOctober 11, 2013

    Best of luck to you and my friend Lisa Olson running in Chicago, wish i could go as a spectator! Awesome shirt to wear too! I'm nervous just thinking about a marathon, what an accomplishment!

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  16. You should get one of those kiity water fountains. has a little pump to move the water. i bet he would love it!

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  17. I can't wait to hear all about your marathon (literally) weekend!

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