Runs with Wolffs

Just a brief explanation about the title of this post: there was once a movie entitled, Dances with Wolves and that name inspired this post. But here it's about running (of course), and also about Wolffs, as in my friends Michelle and Andy. It's also about running on Wolff Road.

Actually, that's all I really wanted to say.

Except that I've been running with training partner Michelle for years and years now. It's been good to have such a reliable companion who doesn't complain about hearing the same lousy stories each time. And that those runs and the weekend ones where Andy has joined us are at an insanely early hour. And that today's run was on Wolff Road near Valley City, which is not the same Wolff Road that we run on in Brunswick.

A Bad Run Outside

I've said it before, and I'm thinking it today: A bad run outside trumps a good run inside (sorry, but that verb works best here).

Only part-way through my first mile. I'm sorely tempted to turn around and complete the planned 18-miler on the mill. The cold wind is bracing, and I'm just not motivated. What's the point, I wonder, of suffering like this in this never-ending winter. Well aware that I'll hate the mill even more, I may, in fact, just call it a day completely.

The worst part is that I'm moving so slowly that you almost couldn't even call it a run. At this pace - and I know it won't get much better - I won't come close to making my mileage goal.

Then a couple funny things happen. As I am recalling my 'bad run outside' mantra, I also think about my friend Larry Orwin, who can't run at all due to severe injuries. Larry loves running as much as I do, and this hiatus is killing him as it would me, So now I decide to stay out a little longer, and to not feel too sorry for myself. Okay, so it's cold, I now think, at least I'm moving, and I'm even doing something I claim to enjoy.

The funniest thing to happen occurs just as the snow begins: I actually DO begin to enjoy the run.

Do I complete the desired mileage? Not even close. Can I consider this a quality run? Ha. But did I get some measure of joy out of it - more than I'd have gotten on the mill? You bet!

Those People Have Issues

“You see these people jogging around parking lots after their run to round up their miles. These people have issues.”

That was Connie Gardner.

Although I pretty much agree with this assessment, I must sheepishly admit to occasionally engaging in this activity myself. And yes, that’s what I am doing now: running around the Hinckley Spillway area parking lot as well as a little on the all-purpose trail. I need that half-mile to get my total up to fifty for the week. Never mind that:

• Fifty is a pretty small number compared with my mileage a couple months ago, when sixty was the norm.
• Although I’ve lost about half of the twelve pounds I brought home from the cruise, I’ve still got a way to go.
• Today’s Hinckley nine actually seemed to go fairly well, after some slow miles in the beginning as well as that slow plod up the hills. All’s well that ends well. But it was the standing around and talking for twenty minutes in between the two runs – and getting cold in the process – that did me in.

There. I did it. Now I can go back to being issue-less.