Patience; the new endurance sport.

Ran at luchtime today.  The world is getting to be that bland color of beige even as the leaves are bright yellow and red.  It won't be long until I'm quoting my favorite Shakespearan sonnet. It was nice to run down the jetti this afternoon.  It was quiet and just what I needed to calm myself down.  I got good rest yesterday, but I still feel a bit frazzled.  Nothin to do but keep on, keepin' on.

 I ran after everyone was gone to school this morning.  But still the clouds were low and dark, the wind was menacing, and the trail totally deserted and littered with branches and fallen leaves.  Everyone is freaking out about the coming snow.  What's the big deal?  I had two mom's whose kids bike with mine to school call me last night frantic about how the kids would be getting to and from school today.  It didn't even occur to me they should do anything but bike. How else are they gonna say "When I was 10, my mom made me ride my bike/walk in snow THIS DEEP " (showing snow up to their necks).  Besides which, the snow is the least of his problems when I'm the Mom. I deeply regret not having a farm where I can put him to hard physical labor which must take place or we starve.  So I figure the least he can do is walk to school. He has a really good coat and gloves.  I hate wondering why I should feel guilty.  It makes me feel guilty that I don't feel guilty.

So, I'm reading Born to Run. Great writing, fascinating subject (about the Tarahumara Indian ultra runners).  If you haven't read it yet, you really should.  This morning's run was tough.  These first days in the wintery weather always give me pause. It takes a bit to acclamate, particularly when it's been so warm for so long.  So anyway, the question of the day is 'can I really run 13.1 miles in a wedding dress?' 

Two pieces of advice for running in the pre-dawn, sub 27 degree weather.  One:  Wear a 'base' layer for your bum under your running tights.  Two:  Never, under any circumstances stop running for any reason or you will literally freeze your bum off (and your hands, and wherever your clothes are sweaty).  I knew I felt cold, but when I submursed myself into a warm tub after my run, all the fat parts stung as they unthawed. I've only had that happen once before a few years ago when I ran up in Heber in sub 0.  It must have been colder than 27 degrees, or I'm not yet climatized.  But thank goodness for all that blubber-- Me and the seals have really got a good thing going.  I'm just sad for all of you skinny runners who don't have the luxury of such stellar frostbite protection.  Hey, I didn't pack away all that fresh bread, yams and squash over the past month for nothin.   I can't complain I gain about 7 pounds every fall and shed them again in the Spring.  It's the natural way of the earth.  But be carful with your digits out there, it's coooooold!

I ran an honorary taper 3.5 miles in anticipation of tommorrow's big race.  I'm totally psyching myself out about how cold it's going to be up the canyon, how slow I've been running lately, whether or not I will be able to breath in the wedding gown, and how many people will step on the train.  Last night, I cut the whole front panel off the dress about 2 inches above the knees and left the long train.  I fashioned a veil attached by a terry cloth headband, and have laminated the 'run away bride' sign for the back.  Catherine, and Rachel are coming, Josse is coming, Walter is running.  There are over 700 people signed up for this freak show.  My kids are more excited than I am.  After I cut the dress, I took it out for a test drive while my kids stood in the doorway watching me from the porch as I ran down the street.  They thought it was hilarious. I've don't think I've ever done anything quite this stupid---intentionally anyway.  I'm super good at doing stupid stuff un-intentionally. So this is a real breakthrough.

We almost died waiting over an hour for the busses.  But after we got up the canyon and learned the race would have a late start, we had a minute to warm up in the lodge. I donned my wedding gown & 'Run Away Bride' plaquard.  Catherine dressed as a lady bug, Josse had a ruffled leotard and funky headgear, Walter was Adam (fig leaf and all), Rachel wore a rainbow wig and headband.  It was so fun even just waiting for the race to start.  Outside was cold, but absolutely spectacular.  Aspen Grove, above Sundance is breathtaking on a clear autumn morning.  After the start we raced downhill and chatted as we went, taking gorgeous photo-ops along the way down the Alpine Loop toward Sundance.  I can't even tell you how beautiful this whole run was.  We were going at an easy 8 m/m clip downhill with no effort even though we all promised each other this was going to be a lazy dazy easy breasy fun run.  But the scenery caught me off guard. Running next to the brook, running down from pure sunlight into the fog crowding the sky and hanging low in Provo Canyon was like entering a different world.  They stopped traffic on the highway to let us cross.  We stopped to use one of the Honey Pots (can you believe that's the brand of Port-A-Potty?  it makes me want to dry heave).  We stopped at Bridal Veil and took goofy bridal shots, and goofy running down the trail dancing shots.  The run was so easy even though I had to hold the train of my dress in my hands most of the way.  Every once and a while I could let it go and it would flow behind me.  Everyone we passed cracked up and took pictures of us, and I could hear them say as I passed "that is hilarious" as they read the "Run Away Bride" plaquard pinned to my back.  My veil didn't give me a seconds worth of trouble.  It was so worth running past people in that dress it made everyone laugh, it made me laugh.  Down toward the mouth of the canyon it got sunny again.  Poor Catherine did not like the Heed they gave us to drink and there were no more POP's.  Cath's husband and kids were in the car and honked as we passed the park at the mouth of the canyon.  We stopped and chatted with him for a second and saw Catherine's cutest darling daughters who both loved my dress, I might add.  Once Catherine found the last POP at mile 12, we let Rachel go (poor Rachel who said she didn't care about her time and wanted to take it easy really I think had a hard time understanding that Catherine and I mean business when we say we're going to take it easy).  After the last stop, we kicked it into high gear.  Catherine kept asking me how I was doing.  The dress had been a little hard to breath in coming out of the canyon (statin does not give at all and it was a little restrictive through the bodice).  But in the last .5 strech heading toward the riverwoods I looked at her and said "I got this, let's go" and we kicked that last bit to the finish--my dress train flying out behind me crossing the finish as they called our names. Our families were at the finish, we took tons of pictures.  Josse told me she finished in 1:30 and looked so cute, even after the run in her purple ruffled leotard.  I had such a great time, and leaving the race I had about 20 people ask if they could get my picture.  I think my pictures turned out lame, but I think it was the last sprint to the finish that really impressed the croud.  All things considered, we spent probably 10 minutes stopping at the bathroom and taking pictures, etc.  So the running was actually not too shabby.  Rachel was the only one who wore the Garmin, so she'd know.  We were out for trick or treats, and we got it.  Happy Halloween everyone!