Running mind game

At first running 4 miles seem really long. Specially if one runs at a slower pace say 5 miles per hour. It means almost close to an hour at the trail if you want to include warm up and cool down. That could have been an extra hour splurge in bed counting z's or 60 min of goof off time on the net.

Considering that life is an integrator and all that jazz, long term effect of healthier activities even though proven to every one else there might be a research in the future sponsored by the council of lazy bums which would prove that the heart can pump only a million gallons of blood and the lungs can process so many cubic feet of air so save those breaths for something more meaningful instead of panting away on the treadmill.

Breaking down the hour: The warm up and cool down are actually investment made so that the post running time period is free of cramps or pains. And the first few minutes are spent in the sinking thought that one actually got off their derrier and actually made it to the trail. While that surprise is still wearing off a frumpy in his 60's overtakes you with ease. One's mind wanders if he was running fast so that he could outrun his wife and stave off some chores. An effort can then be put forth in trying to match his rhythm of step and see if breathing can be synched with each step.

The mind is wandering off again... is it better to take smaller steps faster or fewer longer steps. By this time the mile marker greets with a smile and sometimes that indicates 25% completion. Well that would be a third of the way if the run is cut short to 3 miles and walk the last mile. Just then a super soccer mom forges ahead of you running with a twin stroller. What is the big hurry lady? Is this what she wants to teach her kids? The running is another activity on her to do list, just before grocery shopping and picking up laundry. That is probably going to remind one of doing some of their own chores. Slow down smell the roses and don't forget to mow the lawn. Oh darn it, I can still try to enjoy my run. Just then I overtake a pot bellied balding middle aged water bottle carrying spherical being of a human. Make a mental note to continue running not to reach that stage well atleast skip the spherical part.

The second mile marker at least is visible now with a glimmering ray of hope I continue to trudge along. The old man who overtook me is on his way back and it is clear that he ran to the third mile marker. If I can 6 miles once this year that would be an achievement. A shirtless Salman khan emulating oakley sporting tweenie passes me as if I were standing still. I am probably the blob that he is avoiding to become. Any thought of picking up the pace is thwarted by a cute dark haired pony tail wearing female specimen also overtakes me. I wonder if she has a boyfriend as I dont spot a ring on her hand.

That question is answered shortly as she meets up with the shirtless boy wonder at the two mile marker. If you think it is jealousy speaking you would be wrong. Well maybe, but I am not admitting even half a thing. As I turn around at the second mile I look at my watch. It is 7pm central so the new episode of King of Queens must have started. What is the deal with advertisements anyway. The network probably aired the ad for this episode for atleast a couple of hours that week. And the actual episode is probably ten minutes not accounting for commercials and it two minutes of that is the starting music and ending credits.
The only morale booster now is that I am about three fourths of the way there. Well that is just a guess since my head starts hurting when computing 3/4 of three miles and estimating how many steps I have taken. That reminds me to check the new pedometer and if it was recording the steps. It has a timer as well so instead of calculating how far I have to go I put my cranial ALU to compute my speed in steps per minute. A mental slaps registers a slap immediately realizing the futility of having such a unit as a measure of speed.

As a few familiar faces are seen in the opposite direction the first mile marker is a gentle reminder that I am close to the end of my run. A lance armstrong wanna be cycling short wearing walmart cycle rider rushes between the old couple and me. I smile and wave a hello and hear a yapping sound fast approaching me followed by a scream and a yell " Come back Abe". The yellow labrador was unleashed and he was happy slobbering anybody. The screaming lady was not to be calmed down by the earnest explanation by the owner that Abe was quite playful.

A I cross the rarely used bench I smell barbeque in the air. The trail is practically the backyard of a upscale neighborhood. My taste buds start yearning and my growling stomach does not help. The prospect of a beer filled refrigerator devoid of food triggers a thought of suing these grillers for causing trauma of hunger and appetite. How much cash would suffice to appease such anguish? I like these non quantifiable questions.

Would I have to buy a cash counting machine to count the bazillion or should I skimp and count the money by hand. Tough questions. "One your left" said the armstrong junior who zips past me and brings me back to reality. I probably have another half a mile to go and I see a swarm of people on cycle blocking the width of the trail. These three kids less than 10 years and their parents all of them on cycles. I wonder if there was a sale in the neighborhood that I missed, or if it was part of a new year resolution of more family time that brought them all together. The all pink attire of the youngest on the pink streamers and bike just about made my day. She even had pink shoes and laces.

The zero mile marker held the light at the end of the tunnel. Should I sprint to it to reduce the time of pain or should I endure lesser pain for a longer time. Which one is more healthier? Before I could make a scientific inquiry into the subject I crossed the line and felt like a Olympic gold medal winner. What do the silver medal winners think at this point. If they knew the other members racing would they shake hands say " good run, how about some coffee" and meet up at the starbucks and make fun of the low fat pound cake which had been waiting for a long time.

For the record the four miles were run in 51 minutes. My best timing was less than 47 minutes last year and the fastest mile I ever ran was 8min30sec. And fastest two miles was 17min30