Because I'm becoming more frequent on the running circuit I have some running friends. Now, I use this term quite loosely. There's one older guy (white haired) who runs in a teal track-suit and does push-ups on one of the stadium chairs when he's done running. I'm pretty impressed. He's there almost every day I'm there and we give one another the "acknowledgement nod." There is also a much older man who walks the circuit with a cane. Sometimes he takes breaks and uses the fence to hold himself up. I admire his persistence. He's there every time I am. There are a series of young men who run there, but no one really consistent.
This morning's run was a little more comical because I'm feeling more comfortable. Post-run I did some lunges (my goal is to eventually make it around the whole track in a series of lunges and still be able to walk home, today I made it past about three chairs.....kidding, I did a little better than that, but I'm rusty). While performing my lunges, a few of the young men who finished their run (or perhaps just took a break) decided to take seats in the stands (front-row) and just stare at me, doing my lunges. Yep, today I had an audience. They could have at least cheered.....
Additionally, I had one guy who was running around the track and when he noticed a woman was jogging he STOPPED running and just stared open mouthed. It was hilarious. I just kept jogging and stared at the ground. I also ran all the way back to my apartment (and by "all the way" I mean the whole 100 feet from the stadium to my apartment building). On my way home there was an older man who was crossing the road who stopped, turned and stared as I ran by, just stood in the middle of the street, staring. The thing that amuses me about this is that there are some female foreigners (they're athletes who use the Olympic center) who come into town and I occasionally see them running. I would think I wouldn't be such a novelty.
I also wear headphones on my run. I'm always impressed by people I see running with ear-buds in, I'm a little klutzier than that. My hand gets caught in the cord, one of the buds come out, my groove is ruined. I have to rewind the song. It's kind of a question of whether it's even worth bringing my iPod. (It is, if people are yelling out things, I can't hear them). Today, however, I had sweet success and had a great groove going (thank you playlist).
One of the best things about running is that despite the occasional awkward stares, it makes me feel so happy. Some good dance tunes, a good sweat and I come back to my apartment, stretch out and I'm golden, even on a gray day like today. It makes me want so much to get the girls here running or into any type of aerobic activity. I was thinking about it while I was running today, how to work on making that happen. I think I can do it.
0 comments:
Post a Comment