Thousands of people made of stronger stuff than I (me?) are running the Boston Marathon right now. It was a rainy forty degrees when they started, with wind gusts up to fifty miles per hour. The runners looked like a bunch of TV-dinners, all wrapped up in the tinfoil blankets you usually see after the race. One guy got up at 2am this morning and ran the race backwards, from the finish line in downtown Boston to the starting place in the western suburbs. He stopped briefly to chat with a reporter, then turned around and joined the final pack to run the actual race. Unbelievable.
The sports commentators are remarking about how running still isn't taken as seriously in this country as other sports. I'd argue that making winners wear this on their heads might be part of the problem; that just doesn't look like victory to me. I think one of our local announcers may have had a few too many hot toddies this morning - he's asking provocative questions such as, "Will the runners even need the water stations if it continues to rain this hard?" and calling the race like he's at a strip club: "The arm warmers are coming off folks, things are heating up!!!"
The women are currently at the half-marathon mark; I haven't brushed my teeth yet.
Never mind my slow start, though - I'm off to the gym to capitalize on this surge of inspiration. Three miles, thirty minutes, three-hundred calories - that's my goal. I'll be one with the treadmill, churning toward my personal best. Does itunes have a "cheering crowd" playlist I can download???
4 comments:
I was so surprised to see all of these runners start is such crappy weather. They don't give us live coverage down here in Texas - oddly.
I was a bit distracted with the shootings in VA Tech. My niece goes there and I couldn't get anyone in my family on the phone. Finally got her via IM and she's ok. She made it to her car when the shooting started and high tailed it to her off-campus apartment. I am busy thanking God today.
Oh my gosh, good for you! Three miles in 30 minutes is awesome! I am off to the gym pretty soon myself, but I don't know if I'll fare as well :)
Lynette - you're right. It was rather surreal, watching our local tv station do split-screen coverage of the breaking news of the shooting while runners crossed the finish line. It's one of those times where I don't even know what to think, let alone what to say.
Swishy - I just got back from the gym. The 3 miles/30 minutes was, it turns out, overly optimistic. I had the distance and the calories right; I guessed at the time. But tonight, the treadmill reminded me that it's more like 40 minutes (42 to be precise) which makes me much less of a stud, but clears up my conscience. I'd hate to be the writer everyone looks at and whispers, "Her? No WAY can she do three miles in thirty minutes..."
By the way...you didn't run the marathon today? I was waiting to see you with that lovely wreath of bay leaves on your head!
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