The question of all questions before I venture out to the Boulder Creek Trail is, “What will I be wearing today?” Yesterday it was 28 degrees and sunny, which certainly has no weight at all in determining the forecast for today. I step out onto the balcony and yep, I can see my breath, which partly excites me because this means I get to wear my new North Face fleece-lined running pants. New gear always makes for a better run.
I hit the trail about 8:44 a.m., to be exact, for my 4 mile round trip trek. The new pants add a little spring to my step and I have selected a few choice tunes to accompany me on this short journey. Not quite a substitute for good friends, without a doubt. I turn off the ½ mile run from 17th Street to enter onto the trail which runs alongside a creek, quite low and icy at this time of the year. In the distance I see another runner ahead, not at all atypical for Boulder. If I don’t see more than 20 people when out on a run I wonder what’s up and if I am missing something. As the runner gets closer, I notice something. He is wearing black shorts, a black long sleeve shirt, and black baseball cap. He has dark hair and wears glasses, and he’s wearing an iPod. He gives a quiet nod as I pass by. Hmmm, if he only had wrist weights, he’d be a spittin’ image of Jeff Robek. This kind of makes me more alert today…maybe all of you are out on the trails here with me.
I keep running, keenly aware of those who are passing my and shortly after the faux Jeff Robek sighting I see a couple ahead – a tall man and a short woman. I can see they are chatting, well…the woman is doing the talking…and when they get close to me, the woman who passes me looks up and gives me a big hello. The man gives a warm smile. Ah, this must be Mona and Derek. I keep running ahead and see a man coming at me slightly covered in mud and at a wicked speed. I can’t see him at all to tell you what he looks like, but I know this is Bill Plessinger. Who will I see next?
I am almost at the halfway point by now when I see a woman walking at a good clip, talking on her cell phone. Of course, this is Miss Meg, working out and staying connected to the world, the ultimate multi-tasker. Closely behind her is a man who looks like Nathan Lane. This does not remind me of anyone in the group. I am now at the turn-around spot, which I have named ‘Reflection Point’, a wooden bridge over the babbling brook near an open park. A woman pushing a stroller comes over the bridge. She has a little baby girl, who looks right up at me as they pass by and gives me a little smirk. Christine and Anna, so nice to see you out today!
I am now on the return home, feeling a little looser and ready to get a good sprint on. The trail runs off onto a dirt path in several places, taking runners in and out of the woods. Just as I am about to jaunt off into the trees, I see a guy and girl ahead…the guy has just said something and the girl buckles over in laughter, stopping in her tracks. What did you say that was so funny, Steve?
I ended the run feeling lovely and content, not one bit cold (new pants rock), and looking forward to my next run with y’all.
Run like you mean it.
Coach T
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| From JackTurtles |
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| From JackTurtles |
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| From JackTurtles |
Cool runnings! I'll see everyone Sunday, possibly with my special-est guest (Jen) who might walk. I am also signing up for the Dublin 4-miler- if I am doing a 50 in less than six weeks, I think I should be doing the longer of the two races! See everyone Sunday :)
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