Go, you chicken fat, go away!

I had been doing so well on my diet that I decided to take a cheat weekend.  That was a bad idea.  I felt terrible today.  I just did one loop.

I felt better today.  Now that Emily is in junior high her bus doesn't come until 8:47am.  But it usually comes a bit earlier than that.  I told my wife that I was just going to do one loop, but she said she could get Emily on the bus so I could go further if I wanted.  I didn't want to because I figured it would be too hot.  But it wasn't too bad, and as I said, I was feeling better.  So I went two.  I passed the hobo.  I'm pretty sure I could smell him even though he was 50 feet away.  Maybe it was me.  Then I got a phone call from a client.  I stopped and answered.  It was probably only a 2 minute call.  I started again and went about 100 feet and got another call from another client.  I didn't answer this one.  But it did slow me down because I didn't want to put my phone back in my pocket lest I pocket answer them.  Then I realized I might be able to make it home before the bus got there.  I picked up the pace and turned the corner at 8:45am.  I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get there before the bus left, but I just barely made it and was able to wave goodbye to her.

Feeling better and better.  I started out seeing 5 out of 5 regulars.  I ended up 6 for 7.  The one person that wasn't a regular will be soon.  I've seen her once before.  The first person I saw was Gordon's owner.  I didn't see Gordon right away.  He was off his leash.  His owner said he was hunting birds today.  Then I saw my wife.  I stole a dozen kisses from her.  I saw and passed up the old man in the fisher hat.  The temperature was much cooler than yesterday.  That's because I got out a lot earlier.  And my pace was faster than yesterday even though I ran an extra mile today.

I took it nice and easy today because I was feeling a little sore from yesterday.  I saw my wife at the intersection while I was stretching out.  I waited for her to get home before I started.  It felt real warm out but my phone said it was only 80º.  As I was coming down the last stretch of the Floodway I didn't see the hobo under the tree where I usually see him.  I thought this might be the first time I don't see him.  But then I saw him on the path under another tree.  I'm the worst at making conversation.  Knowing I would only be able to get about one line of conversation in, the only thing I could think of to say was, "It's supposed to be another hot day."  He then said in the most pathetic voice, "Yeah."  Then he looked at his arm.  I thought he might be looking at his watch to see what time it was, but obviously he doesn't have a watch.  So maybe he was doing the universal gesture to ask what time it was, because he often asks me what time it is.  But then I noticed his blotchy skin and I wondered if he has some sort of skin cancer.  So, here I am spending another hot day indoors while he's outside with his skin cancer.  I'm the worst.

I didn't run yesterday because I wanted to be ready for a long run today.  Yes, 6 miles is a long run for me nowadays.  It was 5:50am when I began.  83º.  I started off noticing a lot of people out walking their dogs.  One guy was cutting across the retention basin/park on the corner.  I recognized the dog as Gordon.  They got to the Floodway before I did.  I was able to say hi to Gordon, but then I noticed another dog on the other side of the Floodway.  But where was the owner?  I couldn't see an owner anywhere.  Then I realized it wasn't a dog.  It was a coyote.  I said to Gordon's owner, "There's a coyote over there on the other side."  He said, "Oh yeah.  I see it."  As I kept running I saw someone walking towards the coyote on the other side.  But coyotes like to avoid humans, so it had scampered down into the bottom of the Floodway and was skimming along the side of the bank.  The guy probably had no idea he was there.  Anyway, that was early on and the rest of the run was pretty uneventful.  I finally saw people that were walking without dogs.  Then I saw a couple of runners, but not until I had turned around and headed back.  It was warming up, but not too bad.  I jumped in the pool as soon as I got home.