The Kid shows up at Lock 29 in
Peninsula on time. He is surprised to see that running partner Dave Gajewski is
already there and ready to run. The two get off to a timely start.
The morning is unseasonably cool. The
Kid is slightly beat up from the previous day’s Twin Sizzler 5K race. But he
has begun runs in greater states of soreness than this. His Achilles Tendonitis
hurts, and everything else does too. But he thinks he can handle the pain for
these first three miles with Dave, as well as for the next ten with the entire
gang.
That first mile truly is slow and
painful. But then the conversation changes to politics, the pain subsides, and
the pace picks up. It seems that the Kid’s Dander is up a bit. By the time they
return to Lock 29 he hardly believes that they’ve got three preliminary miles
under their belts. The crisp air is very comfortable for running.
Ten to twelve Medina County Road
Runners have made their appearance for the planned ten-mile run. The Kid
introduces most of them to Dave, and soon they’re all off once again. It occurs
to the Kid that he’s got more than ten years on the next oldest runner. Although
the Kid has forgotten any aches and pains he had when he began, he still feels
a little bit elderly as he tries mightily to match the pace of these
youngsters. The planned (by Keith Johnston) ten minute per mile pace has gone
south of nine, and is approaching eight and a half, and the Kid is working hard
to keep up. But he manages somehow.
The gang is running north on the
towpath, along the beautiful Cuyahoga River, and it’s as nice as a day can be.
The scenery is stunning and the park is practically sparkling.
At five miles north of Lock 29, the gang
comes to a sudden stop. A conversation ensues as they debate whether some
should simply keep going or head back to Peninsula in order to run back out for
a few more. It appears that Caitlin Oblander, Christy Gnat, Patti Tomasello,
Brian Rosenstock, Rick Roman and Renee Harden had been thinking of running
fifteen or so, and have now decided to keep right on going past Station Road
Bridge in Brecksville.
Now that the decision to go on has
been made, the Kid has a choice of his own to make: keep going with this
ambitious bunch, or turn back with the practical people, happy with thirteen
for the day. After a small verbal nudge from Dave, the Kid finds himself
continuing on in the northerly direction.
At this point the pace continues to
quicken, and the Kid notices that his GPS is now squawking about a few
sub-eight minute miles. Conversation, not to mention breathing, becomes more
difficult. He mentions to Brian that the return trip may be tough. In other
words he says, ‘we’re gonna pay.’ Brian, huffing and puffing a bit himself,
agrees.
They pass the Brecksville eagle nest
and decide to stop for a look. The path from the towpath to the river (the nest
is on the opposite side) is short, and they think they may see a white-headed
eagle inside the nest. But no one is sure. Everyone nevertheless enjoys the
interlude. Other pit-stops are made at Brecksville and Boston Store.
At some point the group gets split up,
but all are running well. Even though the Kid is feeling the miles and slowing
down a little, the conversation with Dave and Caitlin in the later miles, not
to mention the great scenery and fantastic weather, keeps him going.
As they finish up, the Kid has
something on the order of eighteen and a half miles in, and he enjoyed every
one of them. He thinks, not for the first time, that running, and indeed life
in general, are wonderful.
Probably just a stupid runner’s high.
He’ll get over it.
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