more than watchmen for the morning

when to run (1/7/2009)

I’m always amazed at running. The first thing is that I am almost certain that I can’t go any further after about 5 or 10 minutes. Somehow, though, everything magically changes when I hit around 20 minutes or so. If it is a good day, then I feel as if I could run a half marathon. Which is a good thing, because one day I will.

Here is another thing about running: Timing. When you run makes a huge difference. Waking up at 6 am and running in the dark with a headlamp on is cool and everything, but it won’t last forever. Imagine that you are laying in your bed. It is 25 degrees F outside and you are snuggled all warm in your bed with visions of sugarplums dancing in your head. Your alarm clock goes off. You are faced with a choice. You can either go outside in the dark night of the earth and soul, OR you could continue to lay in a peaceful, cozy dream state. Running can’t win that battle forever. Not when it lasts ad infinitum.

So this situation is a lot more pleasing. My alarm clock goes off. I don’t want to get out of bed. Naturally, I start to persuade myself to get back to sleep. But then, my better side argues back, saying “Hey there buddy. C’mon. It’s okay. You’re not running yet! You’re just going to go downstairs. You’re going to drink coffee. You love coffee. You’re going to read some. You might send out an email. That doesn’t sound so bad, does it?”

And then, after I have come down stairs, injected myself with my first dose of caffeine, and had a chat with all of you fine people, then and only then do I go running.

Now, the obvious rub here is that I HAD to run at 6AM over the past 4 months or so. There was no other time. There was no other way. So yeah. You don’t want to wish that on anyone, but that is what it was.

If you are running on the golf cart paths of Peachtree City, then 8:30 is the time to do it. That is when all of the crazies are out. 6AM? You have nothing but you and the coyote howling in the distance. Later in the day? Those people, for some reason, hate life and everything that has the capacity for love on this earth. They never wave, they never smile.

But these people at 8:30? They are gems. They are out there walking their dogs. They are power walking. They are running. They are just as chipper and sweet as a rabbit named Thumper. I had passed a woman who was walking dogs at one point in the trip yesterday, and then I passed her again a bit later. She says, “Well you are sure are doing a good job, don’t cha know?”

And then, everyone else just keeps saying “Good Morning!” “Hi! Good morning! How are you?” “Good morning!!!”

I swear, it seems as if at any minute they are going to burst out with ”Bonjour! Bonjour! Bonjour-Bonjour-Bonjour!”

Have a good one.

Tatum.