We'll, how's that for a little vacation. Still trudging along. I have a new goal, to complete a Goruck Challenge next summer. Been working my way up. Today I finally took a big step. 6.57 miles by Map My Run+. I had been limiting myself to about 3 miles. 

I'm sore. I'm tired. I'm happy. 

Apologies to anyone reading this (no one), but the last week of school has had me thrashed. I had three (!) presentations to do yesterday, so that sucked. Then today my shower exploded and overflowed the tub. The only thing I have left to do is my finals, which will also suck. 

I ran some sprints inside Monday then to and from class today. It's fucking hot. 

Today's run went well. As well as can be expected at least. Ten laps up a steep grassy hill at the university. Lots of gawkers, but what else is new, eh? Last time I did six laps, so at least there's that. In the end, I still had to take a test afterwards. What fun!

Tonight I write not for myself, but for a class. No, not this, but a 5 page report comparing two literary classics. Joy! Instead of that, since it's already after 4am with no hope of sleep in sight, I'm going to take a little break and entertain... myself I guess. Let me tell you a little story of the run I went on last Thursday. I had driven to the wonderful town of Oil City, PA to the other campus of my college where, NY Times best selling author, Anne Lamott was speaking. After that was over (it was very enjoyable, but I have to write about that too. I despise being forced to write) I was heading back toward home I took a side trip to the Rails to Trails trail that runs along Sandy Creek near the Cranberry Mall.

I poked around for a bit, and decided I wanted to run up. That's always been a strong suit of mine anyway, running uphill. Well, this is a former railroad track, so it's almost completely flat. but, it crosses a strip out natural gas line that goes straight up the face of a hill. To get to it, I had to cross Sandy Creek. I'm one of those new-age hippie-freak toe shoe runners, so getting them wet wasn't an issue. The water was colder than I had expected, and quite swift. I managed to get across without too much trouble though, and stretched a little on the other side. The cold water had tightened my calves up a bit. Once I was ready I started up the hill. Obviously, at this point some guy shows up and starts playing in the water or something across the creek. He probably thought what I was doing was weird, so we're even.

So I start running. Running up a hill like this is not easy, nor is it fast. It was very steep, probably more than 50% grade and rough, having been torn up by quads, and maybe half a mile in length. Or is that height? So I'm "running" up this cliff face. But mostly I'm stumbling forward, panting, getting cuts and scrapes and having a good ol' time.

Finally I made it up to the first level of switchback trail that I had set as my goal, since the actual summit appeared overgrown and not fun. Then I realized that the hill was steep enough that walking down wasn't a real option. I set off through the woods on a slightly visible path. It may have been an old logging road. Slowly jogging here and forcing myself to breath through my nose, though my lungs were still screaming from the ascent.

I came across an old trailer camper seemingly abandoned in the woods. I kept my distance, because that's just creepy. On down I went, through the still bare hardwoods. Once I reached the hemlock stand I figured I was getting close and then I could see the trail. I looked for a good place to drop down the last bit, but settled for a run off that was somewhat more clear than simply bursting through the dead branches all around.

Of course, as soon as I got to the most embarrassing position I could be in (I won't recount it for the sake of anyone reading this) working my way through the branches, some other guy (not the same other guy as above, but another other guy) goes trotting by, looks up and gives me an awkward "Hey," and I respond with a nod, not really sure why he felt the need to talk to a man in my position at the time.

Back on solid ground, I begin the quarter mile or so back to the lot where I'm parked. My legs are still a little squishy feeling from the initial run, but I push out the best sprint I can muster. Across a wood plank trestle bridge and into the gravel parking area.

A while ago in a class I had to write a poem about my life. Rather than trying to condense 30 years down to a page or so, I picked about 5 minutes and drew it out to about 25 lines or something like that. It's about a time around the beginning of when I discovered how much I could enjoy running. You probably don't want to read it (he said as if someone besides himself was reading this), but here it is anyway, in all its "glory."

Passing lights awaken.
Tension building, I can
Feel it almost
See it in the air.
Through the gate, then
stuttered motion
Toward our final stop.
I doze again...
Full stop. Awake!
Darkness.
Rapid movement draws my eye
through tinted glass.
Did I really see...
Lights on.
"GET OFF MY BUS!"
He shouted. Standing,
Shoving, stumbling, stalling,
Squished through the door.
Like mustered,
Hammered from its packet.
More yelling. I'm not
Together enough to hear.
Yellow foot prints,
Rows and columns.
The next twelve weeks
Are not my own.

This is my blog opener. I am a 30 year old, fat, former U.S. Marine. I am starting this because I need a creative outlet. With 3 weeks left in college, my motivation is all but gone.

This blog is going to feature highlights from an activity I still enjoy greatly, running. I'm not good at it, but dammit, I like it! I will include some poetry, and some ranting. I will tend to avoid all things political, but may occasionally digress to religion. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I hope to enjoy writing it.

Thanks for stopping by!