like this

I'm insanely exhausted but committing to committing something to written history tonight. So here it is: I'm a demon.

I don't mean that in a bad way, unless you're in a motor vehicle which means that you should probably avoid driving near me. Not that I'll get in your way. Unlike a lot of runners/bikers/drivers/normal humans, I tend to follow traffic rules. I go when the silver-colored walking man tells me to go and I heed to the orange hand. All I'm saying is that cars have not been lucky the last two times I've been taking to the sidewalk. I've witnessed accidents - car-on-car collisions - and I don't like that. It makes me nervous. But I have to shake it off and keep running. That's all there is.

Other unfortunate news: I experienced a positively debilitating cramp during tonight's run. I expected it; I had pasta, an apple, pretzels and a lot of "Neon Worms" for lunch. Those worms were not a good idea. But I couldn't stop. Shortly after reaching the Hynes Convention Center, it felt like someone stuck a knife through me and my pace was immediately cut in half. Fought through it, for the most part. I walked about 10 feet when it became exceptionally excruciating, but soon returned to normal pace. I wish I understood cramps better and how to better cope while running. If you're a cramp master, please enlighten. Otherwise, let's suffer together.

Everything else was great. Sunday's 6-mile featured an assortment of uphills and downhills, Brookline and Jamaica Plain. I saw some of the same runners multiple times and almost ran into this woman because she wasn't watching where she was going. Watch where you're going. I'm not sure what I listened to, but it might've been Radiohead. Definitely finished with Kanye. Tonight was another Girl Talk excursion. The highlight was "Like This," which I bumped while running down Commonwealth Avenue alone in the dark. This girl was rocking out or something. Since I have no shame, I committed to raising the roof with my left arm, while clutching my iPod in my right. The runner's high at the end of that was glorious. Cramp = forgotten.

Maps

Maps and I have a very special relationship. So special that, when my computer started playing "Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs earlier, it immediately broke me out of the my-brain-is-numb-from-too-much-reading slump. Maps are magical. This spring would not have been the same without them. And I'm pretty sure they've helped out other people at one point or another. Maps rule. Which is why it's only natural that I'd want to add them to my blog.

Plus, I think as the previous post demonstrates, pictures add a whole new dimension to Life Ain't A Track Meet. Please view the map below to see today's run.

It was one of the hilliest five miles I've experienced in a while. Brutal. The worst part by far was Jamaicaway's terrible hills. By that point, I was ready for the run to be over so my mind wasn't really in the game anymore and my lungs were less than thrilled. But I put in the extra effort at the end and finished strong. I was pleased with myself. And it was brilliant to hang out with Padmani afterward.

a bitterSWEET workout

In choosing to take today's run, I made the enormous mistake of missing a meeting I had planned to attend at my job. I completely, entirely forgot about the meeting. Now, I'm clearly disgusted with myself and consider it a massive time management failure, and I only have myself to blame. But I guess the best option is to consider it part of the past and look at the positive side of the series of events.

I ran approximately three miles to and from Stony Brook. The last time I did this short run my right knee was absolutely murdering me. Murdering me. And I know that's crazy because it is, but my knee was in rough shape. Today was wholly different. My knee felt perfect, my arthritis tame. Consequently, I turned things up a notch. I don't know how quickly I ran the miles, but I was satisfied with myself afterward, particularly when a man on Ruggles Street stopped to speak to me. "Wow, you're fast!" "Excuse me?" "I just took the train from Stony Brook and we got here at the same time. Unbe-unbelievable! That's amazing!" An optimal way to finish an incredible run. I've never felt fast or been called "amazing" so I was reasonably stoked.

Then I went to the gym and lifted, lifted, lifted.