venison in the morning

I’m really getting tired of almost being killed daily. It’s not even because people aren’t being considerate of runners. They simply break traffic rules and are surprised to see me right in front of their hood, looking like a deer in… well, you know the expression.

Yesterday, a woman zoomed up to the intersection with total disregard to where the crosswalk was. There was a bush very close to the intersection which blocks a driver’s vision until the last second. You must stop at the crosswalk and creep forward or wait for the light to change. If I had taken one or two longer strides, I would have gotten hit. I mean, I was right at her window when she hastily pulled away.
I also had another driver (during the same run) decide to try to make a left turn even though the left turn arrow had disappeared and the walk sign had come on. I was midway through the intersection before his tires almost met my toes.

I admit that I’m no saint. I don’t always following the drivers’ manual exactly, but I don’t push limits to where it’s dangerous for those around me. Maybe I do that because I am a pedestrian more times than most. I always wonder if they drive like that all the time or if that was their first offense. Life is too precious to compromise those around you (and yourself). I hope the next time that they’re irritated about a runner crossing their path and slowing them down, they will put themselves in my shoes – or better yet, their own pair of running shoes and try life on the slower side.

the poser

I’m such a running poser. I realize that as soon as I open my Runner’s World every month. Don’t get me wrong. I try to eat healthily and workout regularly, and most of the time I’m successful. BUT I read these articles about people that eat these perfectly portioned meals (30/20/30 – which numbers represent carbs, protein or fat I can never remember) and fartlek and strength train every week without fail make it very apparent that I’m not in that league.

I terribly want to be, but waking up in the mornings to fit in a run seems to be a triumph in and of itself most days (I’m not a morning person – I HATE mornings – but I have to in order to fit it into my day). I also seem to fail every time I plan to cut back on sugars (I can’t resist ice cream in the summer… or winter… ok, I just can’t resist it!) or try to increase the days I strength train (honestly, those days are getting to be farther and farther in between). Not that I was fooling anyone but myself. I have these secret dreams of qualifying for Boston and running marathons all over the globe. And while I still secretly hope they come true, I have come to accept that I’m not the best runner, nor am I near the top of the mediocre runners. But that’s ok.

I run because I love it. I love the healthy glow I get afterward and the feeling of exhaustion and accomplishment. I’m stronger (inside and out) because of it. While I tend to be a perfectionist in the rest of my life (well, excluding this blog which I neglect updating and proofreading), this is the one area where it’s ok for me to not be the best. My only competition is with myself. I don’t have anyone else to beat, nor do I want that responsibility. I run because it’s free and freeing. What can be better than that?