You learn something every day if you pay attention.
--- Ray LeBlond
As my Chicago marathon training cycle winds down, I think about what this summer-tough training cycle has taught me.
- The devil himself must live in my neighborhood
- I sweat like a mother...
- I can rust the inside of a mailbox
- No one ever picks up a dropped Q-tip
- Those runners still will never wave to you
- Throw those wet running clothes in the sink so they don't stain the carpet
- The paper delivery person drives way too fast!
- Take your shoes off outside
- Tailwind tastes better when ice cold
- The Dew Point is a cruel, cruel joke
- The smell of rotting grass makes me nauseous
- The school bus driver drives like a bat out of hell
- Some people let their dogs out unattended...with no fence
- Whining still changes nothing
- Crooked light poles are a new pet peeve
All kidding aside...
- I love seeing the little lighted church framed perfectly at the end of the street
- Birds sing loudly and beautifully
- I never tire of watching the sun rise
- There are very nice people who do wave
- I can do hard things
- I'm stronger than I give myself credit for
- There are some amazingly strong women out there providing invaluable support
What does your running and training teach you?
I'm linking up with Deb @ Deb Runs for the Wednesday Word.
Please visit Deb and the other participating bloggers. It's fun!
Your observations are cracking me up! I agree with the ice-cold Tailwind - I've been freezing half a bottle the night before my long runs and adding the rest in the morning...it's so warm here that it thaws out quickly, but tastes really good.
ReplyDeleteMy first experience with Tailwind was with some berry flavored I won. Ick. I like the orange flavor much better, especially when super duper cold. I put my supplies in a black metal mailbox on long runs so they warm up pretty quickly.
DeleteI'm enjoying the lemon flavor right now but when I reorder, I'll keep in mind your berry experience.
DeleteI was thinking about ordering the lemon next!
DeleteHa you are way more observant that I am! I can vouch for the school bus driver, and we let them drive our kids! WTh???
ReplyDeleteYour absolutely right, there are great women who provide support to us, and you my friend are one of them for me!!!
Trust me, I hop out of the way when I hear or see that school bus coming! I couldn't do this without your ear to bend. I appreciate that!
DeleteThe beauty of a fall race is the joy of sweating and suffering through the summer, to be rewarded by the first sweet, cool breezes of fall. I hope those breezes come your way soon!
ReplyDeleteYes. That would be the ultimate reward! I hope it's not much longer.
DeleteAh so you have one of those runners in your neighborhood as well who never waves back!
ReplyDeleteYes! So perplexing!
DeleteGreat list, Holly! Those runners, indeed. Off leash dogs are a rare occurrence here -- back in Austin, in our neighborhood, they were an almost daily occurrence (with one memorable one following me into the house).
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping this training cycle will teach me I can get by with the bare minimum!
I tried to keep this post fun and light...but I'm not really feeling that way right now. I'm at my breaking point with this heat and humidity. And, I've got 20 miles on the schedule this weekend!
DeleteIsn't it crazy the things you notice on runs? I have to say that runners that don't wave or say hi or acknowledge my presence really bother me. I'm a super social runner and get a boost from others out there doing the same thing. But you are right, some DO and we have to love that! Man has it been a tough summer for marathon training ... I think living in the South, I might stick with Spring marathons ...
ReplyDeleteI trained last summer for a marathon and don't remember it being this bad. But it probably was...we tend to forget the pain. Just like childbirth.
DeleteYes, yes, and yes! And those damn paper delivery people--a couple years ago while training for Chicago, I found a cyclist lying in the road in a pool of blood, a hit and run victim from the paper guy. It's cray!
ReplyDeleteLots of beer bottles tossed out of cars on Saturday and Sunday mornings!
They can't be looking at the road. They are too busy looking at where they are throwing the papers! I'm a little shocked at how many people still get a newspaper...
DeleteOh fun, you are so observant too!
ReplyDeleteEArlier this summer I used to curse the dog owners who let their dogs roam free, or even the ones who take them out on the trails and let them loose, darn owners!
There is one in particular that isn't seem mean or anything, but I swear he (she) is going to make me fall.
DeleteLike you, I surprise myself at my strength sometimes (and, also my weaknesses). I can do hard things...just ask Max, he witnessed some crazy explicatives as I powered through almost four miles of hill repeats today....on the dreaded 'mill none the less.
ReplyDeleteI'm very humbled by some runs. I wish they could all be strong, empowering events.
DeleteWE are both sweating like a mother this summer- let it end! Fun post! I do love my early morning and all the things I love to see like rabbits running across the road and the sun coming up on the lake. This is why we sweat! :) and yes, everything tastes better cold!
ReplyDeleteLast year, I saw a rabbit many, many days in the exact same location. I didn't see Bugs this year. I miss him.
DeleteRunning has taught me many of the same things it's taught you. I've also learned that if you keep smiling and waving, some runners will eventually acknowledge you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up!
Not this husband/wife pair. After all these years...I've finally given up. I'm sure they are relieved. Ha.
DeleteLOVE this ! The devil immediately caught my attention !
ReplyDeleteThis summer, I definitely feel as if I'm running around in the devil's playground.
DeleteThis is such a great list you put together - I wished I could pin it!
ReplyDelete... and I'd definitely wave back at you! :) :)
I know you would wave, Ilka! We'd be good friends. How dare those other people not be friendly!
DeleteI may get nailed with a paper one of these days! But, the bus driver is worse. How scary is that?
ReplyDelete