Thursday, December 28, 2023

Today's Run

It was cloudy and cold today but that didn't stop me from getting in a few miles at the High Bridge Trail. 

I saw two other runners today. I normally don't see any. Truth is, I have a number of pet peeves when it comes to running. One of them is non-wavers. Some runners just stare at me like I'm crazy when I wave to them. So it's always nice when people wave back!

Here's the mighty Appomattox that you run over. 

It's actually a tributary of the James. The Appomattox originates near the town that shares it name and flows generally southeast to Farmville. From here it passes through Petersburg before joining the James at City Point in Hopewell. The Union capture of the High Bridge was a major factor in the forcing of Lee's surrender at nearby Appomattox Court House. 

A trip to Farmville usually ends up with a visit to La Parota Mexican restaurant. Today I enjoyed a delicious serving of camarones a la diabla with rice and beans. The portions are so large I could only eat half of it. I'll save the rest for lunch tomorrow. 

We humans tend to reward ourselves after we do something difficult that requires effort and determination. So, on your next run, think about the pleasant meal that awaits you at your favorite local restaurant. Incidentally, did you know that shrimp is a rich source of protein, providing 24 grams of protein per 100 grams of shrimp? I didn't. 

We runners are naturally obsessed with our style of running. Believe it or not, entire books have been written on, say, how to hold your arms when running. When I run, I try to run with comfortably short strides and an erect carriage. It seems to get the job done. 

As I trundle down the trail you will notice that my feet are terribly pigeon-toed. It seems like a miracle I can get any running done at all in such a bizarre manner. Chalk it up, I guess, to my upbringing on the beaches in Hawaii, where nobody wore shoes growing up. Actually, I don't worry too much about my running form. I simply try and run in a relaxed manner. The goal is to aim for pleasure, not for pain. 

If you ran today, how did it go?