Pushing limits
Posted on | February 19, 2006 |
Before I curl up in a heap of down comforters in front of the TV with a big cup of tea and some graham crackers to watch how the winter games turned out, let me say this: I ran 9 miles in 20 degree weather today.
Nine.
I wore these, and several fleecy thermal layers that made me look much like a mutant superwoman smerf when I pull the skull-tight hood up over my head, but for the most part I was warm. My breath left my body in clouds. Snot ran a constant clear river down my nose.
But the running itself wasn’t that hard, and I enjoyed moving up the long dirt road near our new house, past bucolic red-barn farms and fields where the snow has mostly melted, although now all the streams have turned rock-solid again. Along the tree line at the field’s edge I spotted deer. In the powdery snow and dust at the edge of the road, tracks of others that had run here before: dogs or coyotes, deer, squirrels, raccoon.
The return part of the loop took me along a main road through the center of two small towns, and then directly west into the setting sun. The sky was overcast over the mountains, but where the sun was falling, each cloud was shredded and on fire. I was almost blinded by it: that bright angled golden sunlight that washes the world at sunset. The pavement was inky and blurred below my feet, pounding rhythmically.
The last mile or so had me wanting to give up. Wind in my face, and the final road to bring me back home kept not being where I thought it was. Like a mirage, it was always just a little farther on.
I kept thinking of the quote someone wrote on the dry erase board above the drinking fountain at my gym: if you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten. So I kept running, and finished 1.5 hours.
Back at the house, I saw a bald eagle circling the western meadow. Triumph.
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28 Responses to “Pushing limits”
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February 19th, 2006 @ 11:29 pm
this painting is lovely. I think it is finally getting constantly warm enough for me to start running outside here again. Reading your post makes me excited to break out my yak traks and run the snowy trails around my neighborhood again.
February 19th, 2006 @ 11:36 pm
wow you painted that?
February 19th, 2006 @ 11:46 pm
NINE miles? That’s crazy talk. You are a super woman and I’m just a little afraid you could kick my ass. Good thing you’re my friend, super lady!
Sorry. Had a chai… brain not sue what it’s saying…
February 20th, 2006 @ 12:54 am
WOOHOO! That’s a great run! I can’t wait to increase to that kind of endurance, especially in all weather. You should take a photo of the snot rivers for Tuesday
hee hee
GORGEOUS landscape, is this a stream nearby? I love the dark forest back there!!! My eyes keep peering deeper..
February 20th, 2006 @ 1:43 am
You are so beautiful. The more you share about yourself, the more you inspire me. I LOVE that quote that someone left on the dry erase board. That’s actually just what I needed to hear this week.
I’m not doing nearly as well with my running… but I’ll get there. I do get to use a track above our local ice hockey rink though. It’s nice to watch the figure skaters below me, so graceful, as I sweat and wheeze. Ha.
Your paintings are wonderful.
February 20th, 2006 @ 3:46 am
Every single time I come here, I find something that I didn’t know I needed. (except running for 9 miles, you’re insane, woman)
February 20th, 2006 @ 4:14 am
Holy cow, you rock! I am proud when I run 3 miles! And, I wouldn’t be able to stick my big toe outside in that cold of weather. WAY TO GO!
February 20th, 2006 @ 5:29 am
As that picture loaded I thought it was a photograph at first - the light in it is amazing!
February 20th, 2006 @ 8:19 am
I love that beautiful image. Love that you were able to run outside ~ even though it’s SO cold, it’s so amazingly invigorating to be able to be outside in nature, seeing animals and enjoying what the world has to offer. Give me freezing cold weather and outdoor exercising everytime over the gym. Thank you for sharing.
February 20th, 2006 @ 9:58 am
That painting is lovely. And way to go on a run - that route sounds pleasant.
February 20th, 2006 @ 10:19 am
Good for you, Lady! Wow. The winter olympics must be inspiring to us all.
February 20th, 2006 @ 12:02 pm
9miles! you are my idol! the most i ever jogged was 3 not even ran!
inspiration! how do you even begin to do that/!
tara
February 20th, 2006 @ 12:09 pm
Nice going! I too ran yesterday, a ten mile race that was run as planned as a workout over the course. The scenery may not have been as nice as yours but it was a good way to get the miles in; course guides, mile markers, water stops, and plenty of company. The satisfaction of completion is wonderful.
Kudos to you for your effort. Keep at it during your preparation for the big one! If you need some running guidence or just to compare notes, let me know.
February 20th, 2006 @ 12:19 pm
What an incredible painting! Are you including it in one of your new café exhibits? I am in awe of your many gifts. Now, as for running, I have to agree with Martin Mull: “The trouble with jogging is that the ice falls out of your glass.” (just kidding!)
Cheers to you!, Nicole
February 20th, 2006 @ 1:06 pm
okay, that’s it. We can never meet. I’m not worthy.
*on hands and knees, supplicating*
I’m not worthy. I’m not worthy.
You GODDESS, you!
February 20th, 2006 @ 3:47 pm
I was just going to say, you are a SUPERHERO WOMAN, but a goddess is even better. Is there anything you can’t do? I say that with total admiration, of course.
February 20th, 2006 @ 4:00 pm
you rock!
February 20th, 2006 @ 6:15 pm
Isn’t it amazing the things you can accomplish when you’re focused and your goal is something you really, really want to attain? Nine miles in this freezing weather is quite a feat. I smiled reading the saying you saw at the gym - that’s one of Jol’s favorite sayings, one that I totally agree with. We have choice in almost everything we do.
Wow! about the house! It’s really coming along…. and Wow! about the image above…painting or manipulated photo? It’s beautiful:>
February 20th, 2006 @ 8:48 pm
Gorgeous painting!
February 20th, 2006 @ 9:30 pm
Carla & Alex–it’s a drawing actually–colored pencil & oil pastel!
February 21st, 2006 @ 3:53 am
wow. wow. wow.
and this painting is just gorgeous…
February 21st, 2006 @ 9:47 am
Christina…thanks for clarifying that for me. Wow…excellent work!
February 21st, 2006 @ 1:17 pm
Insprirational, Christina, that’s what you are.
February 21st, 2006 @ 3:42 pm
Holy Mackeral! Nine Miles … it’s been that many years at least since I ran that distance. Brava!
On an unrealted side note - a great english-language book shop in the neighborhood is going out of biz tomorrow and I am hopelessly out of the good book loop.
Suggestions?
Thanks …
February 23rd, 2006 @ 3:11 pm
YIPPPEEE - 9 miles! This is fantastic and I am so proud of you and your commitment!
Your paintings are fantastic and I can’t wait to see the entire collection you present at the cafe.
thanks for all of the wisdom you share.
February 24th, 2006 @ 10:22 pm
Congrats on the run. I LOVE that quote. I need to write it down.
February 26th, 2006 @ 10:19 pm
well, go ahead girl. I’ve never been much of a runner (except for one time in the rain in 1997 and it is quite the extraordinary story, if I don’t say so myself). anyway, that’s a stellar accomplishment and you must feel fabulous… good for you.
March 7th, 2006 @ 12:26 am
[…] e up many more than eleven times, but I didn’t. I chose to run indoors after my last long run left me chilled to the bone, but regretted my decision. It was sunny outside even tho […]