Normal people sleep late when they can. Normal people get up and drink a cup of coffee while sitting in a comfortable chair on a lazy Saturday morning. Why not me?
At 5am, 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, and 7am, I looked at my watch, and looked out the window. The forecast was for cloudy skies, 40 degrees, and rain after 9am. Torn between going for a run and lying under warm covers, I weighed my options.
If I wanted to go for a run outside our subdivision, this would be my only chance. John is scheduled to leave on a flight to Las Vegas today, and he isn't scheduled to be back until Tuesday. Without John to watch the boys, my exercise is limited to what I can do in the house and what I can do in our subdivision. If I wanted to try out that new trail, this would be my only chance until his return.
I dragged myself from my cocoon, stretched my legs, and put on my running clothes. I grabbed juice, a snack, car keys, and my cell phone. Lady, as always, was by my side and ready to go. As we stepped out the door, I noticed the porch was darker than usual. Rain. Already. I went back and grabbed my rain jacket. Maybe I wouldn't need it. It wasn't supposed to be raining for another two hours. I guess the clouds hadn't checked the weather channel.
As I pulled into the parking lot, I felt like a goofus. What kind of idiot goes running in a cold, hard rain? What was I trying to prove? Lady seemed to have similar questions as she looked out the car window. Maybe I should just turn around. Maybe go get donuts. But then I saw two runners flying by in their rain gear. If they can do it, why not me? That's the funny thing about doing crazy things: when one person does it, it's crazy; when more people do it, it becomes a movement. And that's what I needed-- movement.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvfhKWP2rdleo8lEqANmO0tbFAw5-N7atOXLyeI0n1LdhBWmB1ExLCtOIazQj4BKbqgWlZrhV3MX9gHxgu19IF1QGDYn4g2KZ4VAdnpztWVr2__turYn0uTKDINUa0uvg2MZyf1knkZc/s200/german+shepard.jpg) |
My faithful girl who never, ever complains
about where we run or when. |
Lady and I ran five miles in the rain before breakfast. It was cold. My legs were stiff, and they never really warmed up. The rain overcame all of my layers-- a jacket and two shirts, drenched my hat, and even soaked through my running bra. But the only runners I had seen were long gone, and Lady and I had the trail to ourselves.
It was beautiful. The rain glistened on the wooden bridges. Except during the hardest downpours, birds kept singing. The rain made a little river down the trail, and we ran until our feet were soaked. It was a perfect start to the day.
As mom and wife and judge and teacher-- there is very little of my day that isn't centered around someone else's needs. Running-- and a hot bath afterward-- has become my time. It is nearly non-negotiable. I think Lady understands that. And she's with me all the way. Well, except for the bath. She's not into that!