After much lollygagging and internal debate I rolled out of bed at 5:30 this morning. My alarm was set for 5am... Oops. I pulled on my cropped compression pants, socks, sports bra and sleeveless shirt. I pulled my hair back into a slick ponytail and made my way down the stairs.
With only the vaguest hint of uncertainty I laced my shoes, slapped on my ankle reflector and pulled my fleece quarter-zip over my head. I strolled into the kitchen. Dammit, I forgot to empty our reusable coffee pod from last night. I tap the used grounds out and rinse it before placing it in the drying rack. The coffee maker is doing it magical heat up sequence as I grab one of the spare pods and level a scoop and a half of decaf into it.
We agreed to switch to decaf at the new years because caffeine was becoming a crutch. I've also cut out sugar from my cup o' joe.
I start my cup of coffee and with only the slightest bit of resignation step into the living room where I proceed to do about twenty jumping jacks. I ponder what my brother said last week at Christmas. "Aren't jumping jacks kind of hard on you joints? Like jarring a lot?" Truth be told, they might be, but they do their job and I do mine.
My limbs wake up. My heart starts pumping. My brain has already began production of the endorphins that I will ride upon through the rest of the day. I head for the front door. I remember the discussion from last night, "What's the temp supposed to be like at 6am?"
"Oh, about 28 but feel like 21."
Joy.
I pull on my gloves and put on one of my head wrap things as a scarf/mask. I put the second one on; covering my ears and the shaved underside of my hair. I pull on my windbreaker and zip it up to the top. Finally, I add my strobe light reflector bands - one on each arm just above the elbow. One last eye drop as I reflect on the doctor's comments about how people don't realize it is so much drier in the winter time, even if it's raining, because of the cold air.
The dead bolt slides from the frame and into the door. I step over the threshold and the cold instantly slaps my face and whips around my exposed shins. Luckily it is only the lower third - half of my shins and calves that are exposed.
I start walking. I marvel at the crisp dryness in the air. It's so clear out. Even with a half moon and the ambient light of this sleep town I see a million stars. The wind is whipping around trees and buildings. Howling out of the east like daggers of dry ice.
Before I realize it I am at the top of the hill and on the border of our neighborhood. Damn, I had meant to run up the hill, but I was so distracted by the glittering beauty of the sky. I cross the road and pick up the pace. I only run through the shadows. It's not out of fear, it just happens to be a perfect pace marker. As I hit each crosswalk I walk and slow my breathing. The moment I am past the street lamp post on the other side I run. I alternate like this until I am away from the town homes and in the odd void between our neighborhood and an industrial area. My goal? The police station. It's the end of the road.
As I lose the wind break afforded me by the town homes I feel the wind begin to tug at my ponytail and push at my back. "This will be fun on the way back." I think as I look at the flags whipping in the wind, never offering a moments respite for the material.
I hit the end of the road and turn into the wind. Its presence so much more obvious as I run against it. Rather than the cold encouragement at my back it is frozen fingers tearing at me. I pull my mask up and my headband down. Maybe goggles would be nice for runs like this. The air is like a ceaseless current around my ankles, the exposed skin reacting, but at this point not necessarily recognizing the true temperature of the air. Lotion will be needed to prevent my sensitive skin from drying out.
I push myself until I am back in the safety of the town homes shadows. They ease the wind's pressure ever so slightly.
I reach the top of the hill and make my way down. As I run the last half block I look up at the sky and thank myself for taking the time to do this.
I reach the porch and stop for a moment to stretch out my calves and most importantly my plantar fascia. The last thing I want is for that to act up.
I walk back into the house just as my wonderful partner is going to retrieve our tiny demon from her bed. Time to make pancakes and see what the rest of this amazing day has in store.
I hope you enjoyed this peak inside my brain. I don't knnow how I managed to hold onto this while we ran errands and I cleaned the carpet, but here it is. Now for a quick power nap before we head off to a little shindig.
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