Me vs. Mother Nature

It has been like this all week: I'll wake up to a gorgeous day, go to work... and look longingly at the sunshine, right outside my windows. Just a plate of glass separating me from the great outdoors. Knowing that other people are on their bikes, walking, running, in line skating, playing basketball, golf, jumping on their trampolines... I'll watch my clock creep to the 5 o'clock hour, jump into my car, drive home... and then, just as I'm changing for the day's workout... clouds will move in, and the rain starts falling. EVERY day so far. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. And, when I say rain starts coming down... I mean RAIN, the BIG drops. We're talking: thunder, lightening, and the drops you mistake for hail (wait, there was hail on Monday).

Does Mother Nature have it out for me?! Have I recently done something to upset her? Nothing comes to mind... but, she continues to tease me. Spreading sunshine and warm temps over Greenville during the day, and then quickly yanking it away as I'm escaping from the office.

She's forced me to skip a ride and run on the treadmill. I'm thinking about switching to aerosol cans and styrofoam... but, then she might really do some damage next week.

Yesterday, she got on my last nerve. The day was Beautiful. At lunchtime, When I had to make a trip to the post office, I actually parked in the furthest spot from the door. I took my sweet time walking across the parking lot. How sad is that... in my effort to enjoy the nice day, I was buying time on the post office blacktop?!

Anyway, I was jazzed about getting off work and going for a run. Seriously, the sky was clear as I made the 4 mile commute from the office to my house. 4 MILES! I changed into running attire... and as I was pulling my hair up, I heard Noel come through the back door.

"it's raining again," she called. WHAT?! Are you kidding me. I threw open the door, and sure enough. Dark clouds had appeared and the rain was falling. My mood fell with it. Then, I heard a clap of thunder... and my mood fell further.

I was ready to throw in the towel. Mother Nature had won. Time to change clothes, curl up on the couch, and eat ice cream.

"What are you going to do?" Noel asked. Plan "become a lazy ice cream eating bum" was on the tip of my tongue. But, I couldn't let Ms. Nature win again. She'd been beating me all week... and this time I wanted to fight back.

"Lets go run," I said.
"Yes," responded Noel, with a smile. We agreed that running in the rain could be fun... as long as we didn't get struck by lightening. I hear those lightening bolts can really smart.

I grabbed a cap to keep the rain out of my eyes, Noel changed... and we were out the door. No ipods for either of us today. Just the sound of constant downpour - interspersed with thunder, ambulance sirens, and car horns (I love that people honked at us, like we didn't know we were running in the rain... thanks for the reminder, we know we're crazy).

As usual, before starting the run, Noel and I agree on an easy pace. This time, we actually did start out rather easy. (unlike the first time I ran with her... she took off from the door at about a 6 min pace. I literally had to stop and yell for her to slow down. She told me she just gets excited to run with someone.) I think Noel may be an illegitimate child of the Energizer Bunny. Not only does she keep going and going and going, but it gets faster and faster and faster.

Anyway, the rain made for an exciting run. We kept our heads down, accelerated when the lightening seemed too close, stomped through puddles, laughed, and pushed harder. It ended up being one of the most enjoyable runs I've done in a while. We were soaked by the time we got home... dripping all over the kitchen floor. So entertained, were we, by our drowned appearance... we decided to hold a photo shoot. I'll add the pictures later... they're hot.

I'd hate to run in the rain everyday, but yesterday was a fun change of pace. I felt like a kid, running through the park, actually aiming to splash through puddles.

This weekend it's supposed to clear up - forecast calls for sun both Saturday and Sunday. Maybe I'll actually get out on my bike?! Let's hope so, 'cuz my running shoes are still soaking wet.