It's getting to be that time of year again, when the dregs of summer are wasting away and we're on the brink of the fall. It's getting darker earlier, the humidity has vanished, and saddest of all, I have to sleep in pants again.
All of this, plus the leaves gathering on the sidewalk, my birthday plans in the making and the multitude of back-to-school stories I will be writing at work is getting me thinking about running and autumn and how they will go together.
There will be new, water-repellent gear to shop for, the ability to fly down Broadway again, when the tourons leave (thanks to Mariah for that awesome term) and the big decision I am mulling over: whether to run outside straight through the end of the year or reup my membership at the YMCA for the colder months. Come to think about it, I will probably reup at the Y no matter what, just for the yoga and cardio classes, and the steam room.
The adjustment to running through the changing seasons has already begun to take hold, like this weekend, when I had to work my run around the pouring rain that went on for two days. The lack of heat and late light is also lessening my desire to run at night when I get home from work, so an alternative is going to have to be found, and soon.
Saturday I felt so physically off before leaving the house for my run that I actually considered just going to the Y and paying the one-time use fee to use the treadmill for the workout. My legs felt like bricks, my head was fuzzy and I couldn't muster any happy running energy. What the heck, body?
But I ran through Skidmore College anyway, a much wiser choice than paying for the gym or just flopping on the floor at home. The pavement on the campus is springy and smooth, there is little traffic, and the hills were a new experience for me, and something I've been wanting to work on.
Unfortunately, my left calf didn't want to work, and it didn't like the hills at all. Since then, it has been a stiff, sore pain for the last couple days.
Sunday I rested, Monday I begged a leg massage out of my companion (he threw in a gourmet, home-cooked dinner too, yum!) and today, I left work early and blissfully walked straight to yoga.
When I sat down on my mat in the studio, my first thought was "Ahh, I'm home." This thought stayed with me throughout the class. I felt like I could spend 90 minutes every day after work in the yoga studio.
My goal is to make yoga practice a more regular part of my week, in addition to running. They work so well together -- the yoga opening up the joints, strengthening the core and training the mind to stay calm and focused, all amazing techniques that lend themselves to better running. And obviously, there is the benefit of helping heal and prevent injuries by keeping the muscles limber.
It's also that time of year when half of the people I know have birthdays, including moi, so there is some celebrating to be done and some cake to be had.
Look for another post soon, maybe about cake. I love cake.
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