Big Tuna

Big Tuna, originally uploaded by erictwright.

Grilled tuna steak with peppers, coriander, lime, white pepper, and little olive oil and some garlic. and darn tasty

July 29, 2007 | Filed Under Photos

Zephyr

ed. note: sorry about the long writing post, but I need a buffer for the picture-it’s a little gross, so this is your warning-if blood makes you queasy go here and look at some cats

It has been about 2 months of running everyday, and while on some days the run is somewhere between torture and annoying other days it feels like crack ( or what I imagine crack would be like ) Yesterday was the latter. I came home from a long hot loud uncomfortable day with a mind full of to-dos after a hectic week of falling behind and overtime hours. I needed a run. I have been taking it easy as far as running is concerned because of some hip pain, breaking in some new shoes and schedule limitations, but I have been doing my stretches and I finally arrived at my weekend. I donned my newish shorts and the new shoes with the elastic laces. As I pulled my key from the ring and stepped outside the clouds opened up and it started drizzling. No big deal I thought I have run in some weather and I really need this run.

After my warm up I was still feeling good, no hip pain-no hot spots no chafing, and the rain was letting up- I decided to skip over to the 10K course and see how I would handle that; it is pretty hilly and not my usual route so the 6 miles there seems much worse than 3 of my 2 mile loops. I started the course and just after a mile I noticed that I was being followed—by dogs. Now normally I am not a big dog fan, I don’t a well-behaved dog when the owner is nearby-but this was wrong in several contexts. #1 the dogs were 2 large pit bulls, not my idea of a cute pup. #2 No owner, #3 they were following me down a dark street. I guess there is a reason why I stick to my nice shady, safe route through the historic district. I managed to pick up the speed and lose the critters, but I quickly realized that the 10k course, which is just fine during the daytime, is not so easy at night. There are no streetlights at all through one of the major loops. What started as a great run was quickly going downhill? One more thing before I forget- just after the dogs It started pouring rain-not sprinkle not a drizzle I might even put it past downpour- I think we had a full blown deluge-we are talking torrents of rain.

I decided to change my route to something better lit and just keep going. Quietly as I was padding down some side streets cruising just listening to the cadence of my footfalls-water squishing between my toes and the faster thumping of my heart, I slipped into the zone. I don’t know how it happened or why it happened. It was still raining I was till running, but my mind cleared and I felt like I was flying. I could see my self-running through the steam coming off the asphalt leaving a vapor trail- I was running and it was effortless. Just to be clear, I am not a fast runner often at the end of 2 or 3 miles I am doing all I can to just put one foot after another with a tired shuffling gait. This was an odd feeling, I was striding out zipping along at an above normal pace and everything about the run felt perfect.

What is funny to me is what goes through my mind during those times. I was struggling to explain to myself what was happening, before I realized it I had run for an hour and was not feeling any pain or fatigue. The word that came into my brain was zephyr. Some words just stick out to me and I have vivid memories about them and zephyr was one of them. I recall hearing the word and having it explained in middle school while reading a play. But the most clear recollection realizing to it comes when I was working that quintessential high school job-the grocery store bagger. The conveyer system was not terribly modern; it looked to be from the 60s or 70s. The sides were polished chrome-and along the back where I stood it had the brand name-Zephyr emblazoned on a red badge.

So back to the run- I felt like I was running on the wind. I know it sounds remarkably cheesy but I did 10 miles last night and I didn’t hurt. I am not sure if it was the rest this week, the new shoes, the rain, a mental thing or what. But for me 10 miles in less than 2 hours was just what I needed.

And now for the graphic picture I warned you about.

When I cam back home and ditched the soaked shoes and went to take my shower I noticed something funny on my shirt. Earlier I mentioned that I felt no chafing-well the rain and sweat soaked cotton t-shirt that I was wearing apparently WAS chaffing. I don’t know why I couldn’t feel it but it certainly bled.