Ever have one of those days where everything starts going downhill immediately, and even when things start to improve, you feel like you’re only just scrambling to climb out of the pit into which you’ve fallen?
I was grouchy when I woke, since the last few hours of sleep were spotty; Gabe screamed me awake, having a bad dream, around 3:30 or 4, and I never really recovered. Then we got off to a late start and a grumpy one, with both boys shivering and not wanting to crawl out of their warm blankets and into clothes. Gabe didn’t want to leave the house to take Sam to the bus stop; Sam didn’t want to wear a jacket. I was planning on going for a run right after dropping Gabe off at preschool, but when I tried to turn on my Garmin while waiting with Sam for his bus, it refused to cooperate, despite having been on the charger overnight. Tried to call Eric for mental support, and the phone, which had also been theoretically charging, was nearly dead itself.
I finally let out a scream in frustration. Gabe started the lower lip trembling thing, making me feel horrible for breaking. Thankfully, we were only a block away from his school at that point, so his teachers could rescue him from me.
Back home, I managed to reset the Garmin, charge the phone, and I was out the door almost an hour later than I intended. Oh, well. I dropped my five mile plan and decided to run out my frustrations. God smiled at me and led me to another mystery trail:
It was tucked back between Sam’s Club and the landfill, to which I was running in an effort to join the Dump Runners Club. I love finding these things, even if I wasn’t in the best mood today. It really went a long way toward drawing me out of my anger and bringing me back to normal. Sometimes, all you need to do is step off the road you’re traveling and deliberately head in a completely unexpected way – and that can be literal or mental. Or both. 
Much better now. Off to procure a violin!
I’m doing this race as my first 50K/ultra in July 2012. I’m so tardy to the party but...
Carrie..how do you get past the being scared stage when you run on mostly deserted paths? They are really beautiful, but could be deadly? Joy
I guess it just doesn’t occur to me to feel scared. I love the beauty of the trail, the way the trees can form a natural roof over my head, the crunch of gravel and leaves instead of the slap of rubber on concrete, the almost complete lack of exhaust and other industrial smells… And most of these paths are pretty well contained by virtue of their location, so I know they won’t go on indefinitely. They’ll either loop back to where they began, or else they’ll let out onto a nearby familiar spot. If they get too winding, I start to check my watch and make plans about when I’ll turn around and retrace my steps.
I do wear ID around my neck, with my name, address, phone number, etc.
What Toni said is what I Was going to ask. . .
It is one of the things I resent about being a female. . . having to worry about personal safety and plan my entire life accordingly.
I encourage you to always listen to your comfort level-gut-feelings. Not to get SO SOBER on you, but just do, ok?
BTW, gorgeous trail, even if it gave me the nervous chills.
Beautiful trail, but I’m terrified of forrests. Glad to know you could feel the peacefulness of it and not worry.
And some advice from a mother of a 7-year-oid. When Katie doesn’t want to wear a jacket or coat and it’s too cold to go without, I make a deal with her. If she can stand outside on our porch for 4 minutes without a jacket or coat and is still not cold, then she can go without. It usually doesn’t take more than a minute for her to realize mommy knows best. Then I remind her that vanity over sanity is not cool. (Side note: I had to use that same deal with my Maggie this morning, when she decided she HAD to wear crocs with no socks, even if it was 40 degrees out.)
A. fought with me on wearing a sweater this morning (seriously, she’s still favoring her summer skirts and short sleeves…yeesh). We walked to the bus stop and once we arrived, I asked her if she wanted to put on her sweater. (“Yep. Sure!”) No hesitation.
Time to rotate the clothes…this time of year is so awkward — you freeze in the morning and sweat in the afternoons… Fall is definitely layer weather.