Archive for December 3rd, 2007

Or they would if their windows were rattling like mine today. I just got back from 8 easy – easy, considering the wind’s whipping like a Dominatrix on speed.

I’d put it off all morning but the forecast basically said “wall ‘o wind” until tonight, so there was no avoiding it. Once I got out it was fine, like strength training at times, and I did end up kicking myself in the shins when I was sideways to the gust, but I had a smile on my face the whole run. Why? Because I was out there. I know, it takes so little to crack me up.

What was especially cool about today’s run was twice I was passed by runners going the opposite way who jokingly assured me, “it’ll be a lot easier on the way back”. This is pretty unusual in itself because with all the runners and cyclists out there daily in my park, not many will smile, much less speak to you, so it’s nice when you get that “we’re all in this together” camaraderie.

Of course, it works the other way, too. They’ve been building a new parking garage for the Art Museum, which I pass every time I run. For a few months, there was one stoic construction worker in charge of letting the trucks out onto the street, making sure the driver waited for runners and pedestrians to pass before exiting, and this guy and I would silently nod to each other when I passed. He was replaced a couple months ago by a much more effusive guy who keeps trying to talk to me when I run by, which doesn’t work too well because I ain’t gonna stop and I’m usually plugged into my mp3 player, besides.

A couple weeks ago, before the Philly Marathon, he managed to ask (yell out) if I was doing it, after a few “What?!?”s from me, I yelled back that I was doing the Half and he replied that he’d be there. But again, me with my headphones and fear of overly-friendly construction workers, I didn’t find out in what capacity he was talking about – was he running it, volunteering for it, cheering a friend, stalking me? No idea. He’s since asked how it went, I yelled out, “fine” though I felt guilty because I couldn’t ask how it went for him without starting an actual conversation, so I ran on. And that’s that, until the next time he cheerily asks me another question I can’t understand.

Which is what’s so interesting about a running life: the Wind, she comes and goes, but all the funny little interactions remain, innocuous and notable at the same time.