Running in heat

This morning I walked out the door for my run, and was immediately hit by the sweltering heat. So I spend the first mile talking myself into continuing instead of giving up.

But once I'd managed to get myself two miles away from home, I was in the clear, because I had to get back home, and I might as well do that while running.

When I finally got home I collapsed on the couch, sweat pouring off me, and gulped down two big glasses of water.

Maybe next time I'll take my five children with me, so they can cheer me on and hand me paper cups of water which I can then drink and pour all over me. I can hear them now: 'Mommy you're spilling all the water!'

No doubt they'll immediately pick up the habit and throw their juice all over themselves when we're at home, thereby supplying me with new motivation to go for another run to get away from it all.

I love it when everything comes together.

Summer Vacation

No, this is not me after running a marathon.
This is me after two and a half days of summer vacation and five kids.

Going loopy

Teuntje (9) fancied an Italian ice cream, and I fancied a run, so together we ran to the neigbouring town of Zelhem which actually boasts an Italian ice cream parlor! That is to say, I ran, and Teuntje rode her bicycle.

'And then you can run back the other way,' hubby suggested from the couch, 'so you can make your Sunday 16 kilometers!'

So, after polishing off our ice cream and a cup of coffee, I decided to follow hubby's advice and go back the other way, so as not to get bored by running the same old bike path.

Within minutes I had absolutely no idea where we were, feeling like little Hansel and Gretel, but without the bread crumbs to get me home. I cursed myself for not bringing a compass, but then I remembered I'm about as good with compasses as with finding my way. Besides: I don't own a compass, but I digress.

'Isn't this exciting Teuntje?!' I said encouragingly, as much to Teuntje as to myself. 'Quite the little adventure, isn't it?'
'Shouldn't we just go back mommy?' she replied in stern tones.
But I despise 'going back'. It's way too much 'Been there, done that, got the t-shirt'. So I firmly said 'No!' and added with more stubborness than whisdom: 'Mommy will find her way soon!'

Indeed! After about half an hour of being throughly lost I saw something familiar: Zelhem!

It turned out I was going the right way all along, but because I began to doubt myself I'd accidentally run in the direction of Zelhem again, running in a loop.

Which just goes to show: you should have confidence in yourself or you'll go loopy!

The genuine article

The first time I met them was in high school: fellow students who left the classroom after a test, moaning and groaning saying: 'I did terrible! I'm sure I'll get an F!' and blithely proceeded to get an A. While I sadly took in my F, because when I said I didn't do very well, I was telling the truth.

As a mom you meet them too. You go for a visit and your hostess opens the door, and while you're still blinded by the bright glare of her gleamingly clean floorboards she declares: 'Please, don't mind the mess! It's terrible in here.'

Indeed, even as a runner you cannot escape them! Sympathetically they lean towards me , whispering: 'I'm soo slow! Everyone is always faster than me!'

Pleasantly suprised at not being the only one I happily respond: 'Why don't we run together then?' but I can't hear her answer because she's already six miles down the road, leaving me to spit her dust out of my mouth.

They are the fakes among the authentics. The knock offs among the real article.

But oh, how I would like to be the fake sometimes, instead of the genuine article!

A quick ten miler

Today I ran a quick ten miler, passing fellow runners left and right, giving them a friendly little wave. And while they ate my dust, I decided to add another ten miles, since I was clearly on a roll.

So I did, and after having completed twenty miles without breaking a sweat, I went home and did some laundry, and then went for a little bike ride.

Really?

No.