something i posted up on the letsgoforarun site for you to peruse or ignore at your convenience... (update... definitely skipped part of it in the copy-paste process. take two...)
****************************** Much to my surprise, late summer is already upon us. This might not
seem like a noteworthy observation, but late summer is a magical time
for running.
Last night was warm and muggy (not hot and muggy,
thanks to a summer storm passing just north of us), which is rather
typical, and the equally as typical effects were in full force.
Running came with ease, albeit not quite as quickly as it might
feel; the obscenely high humidity and dew point ensured that. Breathing
equal parts water and air comes with a price, I suppose. The late summer tends to bring out the best in other runners, too. The
company of those who have weathered the 100+ degree days for months on
end is easy to enjoy, especially when everyone is of the same opinion
that truly fast running might be better suited for *another* day. This
enjoyment is enhanced with the seemingly contradictory inevitable burst
of speed.
...maybe the word "speed" is a bit generous...
The route itself, by now a fixture of the collective weekly routine,
passes underfoot with ease, each root and trench known all too well.
Also known all too well are the endless swarms of gnats, which as the
evening progresses will undoubtedly magically transform into a
ubiquitous mass of mosquitoes. We all make the obligatory jokes about
caloric and protein intake due to swallowing these gnats, and I was even
lucky enough to collect one in the eye that was still there this
morning. (the strange things you notice whilst brushing teeth...)
The wildlife were aware of the perfect conditions as well. My six or
seven rabbit sightings were eclipsed by others' raccoon, turtle, and
coyote sightings from the morning.
The late summer is certainly a time to be cherished as a runner. All
too soon, the days will shorten, temperatures will drop, and we'll all
be discussing the challenges of winter training.
...which will bring its own set of fascinating observations, no doubt...
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