Saturday Run and Musings

What a week. I’m going through one of my angsty phases again, fed up and annoyed with how fake everything feels. I’ll get over it, but for now it’s a struggle to keep plugging away at the office job and surviving in a modern urban society. Everything I do is so far removed from the real people that are affected by it, that I often feel like I’m living in some Second Life world, all made up and with only the illusion of significance.

Yeah, I need that vacation. Only a few weeks to go!

Today’s run was a modified version of my Memorial/Chimney Rock run.

I had a little trouble breathing at the outset, but it went away around mile 4. I wonder if I’m allergic to jasmine? There’s so much of it in bloom right now that in some places you can cut the scent with a knife. I love it, but I wonder if my lungs love it, too?

As I left Memorial Park, there was a train going by. Since it was moving fast and I could see the end, I waited rather than go under the trestle. I love watching trains. The Santa Fe’s tracks ran through my grandfather’s property in New Mexico, and me and my cousins would go out there and watch the trains go by. My cousins lived in Albuquerque and visited my grandparents often, so they knew all the train schedules. Sometimes we would sneak out late at night, running down to the tracks in the dark to watch the boxcars sway as they rolled by. I think of these things when I see trains, and it makes me smile.

After the train passed, I crossed the tracks and continued on my way. I felt pretty good, except for where my IT Band strap was chafing. It was a problem that would only get worse, but there wasn’t much I could do about it, so I ignored it.

The roadside garden was doing well today, and the trees were just covered in kumquats. I was wondering if I should go back later and pick some, when I saw an old man and young boy filling bags. Good. I’m glad someone’s eating them.

Once I got past Woodway, I was in somewhat new territory. I was on part of the Houston Marathon course, meaning I had run this way (going the opposite direction) twice in the last seven years. So in other words, it was almost as if I had never run it. I didn’t have landmarks identified, or a sense of how far things were. This kept me distracted, but not always in a good way. I was getting thirsty and fighting a case of "Are we there yet?"

Once on San Felipe, I started looking for good places to buy water and use a restroom. I only wanted water, but it’s good to know what amenities are available on any given route.

When I got to Rice Epicurean (a local grocery store), I went inside and bought a bottle of water. I had brought some electrolytes and calories along, so I fueled up, drank half my water, and wrapped the bottle in my ever-useful bandana so it wouldn’t slip out of my hand from the condensation. And then I continued on my way.

I had fun running up Post Oak, the scene of much of my twentysomething wining and dining. And then I turned onto Uptown Park Boulevard, which connected into the trail I followed last weekend. Soon I was back on Woodway, finishing up my run in the usual way.

I definitely like this new route, with all the places on San Felipe to get water and use a restroom. My Fuel Belt aggravates my hip problem and I don’t like to wear it much any more, so knowing where I can get water will be more and more important as the weather warms up.

I haven’t got much else to say about today, other than that I’m glad I’m not at the office. I’ve been invited to do a city ride early tomorrow morning, but we’ll see about that. It sounded good last night and this morning, but with my hip stiffening up tonight, I’m not so sure now.

Recent Workouts
Monday: 5 mile run
Tuesday: 30 minute spin, 10 minute weights
Wednesday: 30 minute elliptical
Thursday: 30 minute elliptical, 15 minute weights
Friday: rest day
Saturday: 14.5 mile run