Dispatches from the middle

Yesterday morning I got up (at 6:45 am, much to my chagrin and not entirely of my own volition, though in the end a very wise decision) and ran about 22 km. Still half-asleep waddling out the door and into the early morning drizzle, I didn’t eat or drink anything beforehand, and neglected to bring anything to eat or drink with me. (And then, of course, proceeded to natter on to my fellow runners about the best intervals at which to consume gels during a long run.) None of this was very wise, but the whole endeavour turned out to be great fun. I was a bit hungry at the beginning, and very thirsty by the end, but it was a totally pleasant, relaxing run complete with hills, dales, puddles, just the right amount of mud, and great company. Exquisite pleasures: 1. Light, cool rain; 2. Realizing you can quite easily run a distance you thought you lost the training for…I should know better; 3. Drinking out of random taps as you run (finding a conveniently located washroom right when you need one falls into this category as well) 4. Realizing your feet are already so wet you may as well be jumping in the puddles, and then doing so.

At some point during the run, J mentioned ginger ale. Being shamelessly suggestible when it comes to what I want to eat and drink, I latched onto this idea too and, at the end of the run, we made a beeline for the nearest Mac’s. There’s something about physical activity and being outside – a long run, a day of hiking, a good swim – that makes food and drink that much more enjoyable. And not simply the fact that it satisfies hunger and thirst – it actually tastes better. After a day in the mountains, I can throw together the vilest concoction, and I certainly have on occasion, and it’s a feast. After yesterday’s run, the ginger ale hydrated, replenished sugars, and settled my stomach. And did it ever taste good! Exquisite pleasures: 1. Ginger ale; 2. Hot and sour soup on a rainy day.

To a compulsive doer, fusser, maker, thinker, writer, runner, and fidgeter, spending hours at a go on the couch is not always an easy thing. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll do it. But I probably won’t be able to sit still, or be quiet, and I’ll feel guilty afterwards. Unless I run for a couple of hours first. There is very little in this world more lovely than complete and guilt-free idleness following a long run. Snuggling up and drifting back into the dreamy, dozy sleep you’d clawed your way out of to go running in the first place is an absolutely delicious sensation. Exquisite pleasures: 1. Good pillows; 2. Being able to watch as many consecutive episodes of whatever television program you want without worrying about wasting time; 3. Having my brain actually, finally, be quiet for a while.