Today A Biker Was Nice To Me (!!!!)

Okay, so maybe it's just the NYC bikers with their stupid corporate teams and their annoying sense of entitlement . . . but I always assumed that bikers (I'm talking straight-up bikers here; not triathletes who bike as well as swim and run) were assholes. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the dudes in Central Park and/or Prospect Park always seem to try their darnedest to plow my ass over and scream rude obscenities at me every chance they get. BUT. My opinion on bikers changed today. You see, at some point around 5:45 p.m., I set out on the Seminole Wekiva Trail to see what it had to offer a running gal like myself (other than 90-something temps--HATE). I took things nice and easy, enjoying the scenery, and trying not to die of heatstroke (my mantra was "Adapt, yankee! Adapt!"--hey, I had to do SOMETHING to entertain myself . . . I was running sans i-pod).

I set out with the goal of covering the 12-miles I had missed this past weekend while moving (oops . . . sad face), but started to get a little nervous when I realized the heat was already taking its toll on me by around the 3-mile mark. I continued on, trying to figure out what to do. Well, wouldn't you know, I saw a tunnel coming up that REALLY looked exciting to run through. It ran under a major highway in a kind attempt to protect us athlete trail people from the crazy-ass traffic. I got closer and closer to the tunnel entrance . . . and then out came a spiffy looking biker dude clad in blue and yellow. He slowed down like he wanted to tell me something, and I assumed he was going to yell at me for being on the "bike" path. But no. "Just want to warn you, there's a really drunk guy in the tunnel. He seems pretty belligerent. He just threw a beer bottle at me." I was shocked. That? Was the kindest thing ever!

I thanked the man profusely for the warning, and decided it was a sign from above that it was time to turn around. I wasn't about to take on a belligerently drunk man all by my lonesome!! And so I turned back around just after the 3-mile point. I toyed with the idea of just running the out-and-back segment TWICE in order to get the full 12 in, but BOY was I dragging by the time I got back to the trail head. I also started to worry that it was going to be dark by the time I got back to the car after the second out-and-back, which of course, made me nervous. In the end, I decided to call it a day. I had completed 6.11 miles in 1:02. I'm bummed that I didn't get the full 12 in, but I'm calling the run a success anyway, since I am one step closer to acclimating to the shitty weather down here.

In other news, the first day of class was great (other than the fact that I was almost late because I couldn't find the building--ugh--luckily, I at least remembered to wear pants). I've already learned a LOT about the current state of the fitness industry and its problems/issues/trends. VERY interesting stuff. We have to begin training other students tomorrow, which terrifies the crap out of me . . . but as I told Wilson, it's better to be terrified now, when I'm working with other students and have instructors around to answer any questions, than it would be to be terrified of working with my first PAYING clients. I honestly don't know how people who do just a weekend certification program do it! So anyway, I'm facing my fears and getting 'er done. Hooray for me :)

Well, I'm off to pack my lunch and get ready for school tomorrow! Gosh, I love saying that!

Hope all is well out there!