sweatbands and their ability to see into our souls…

Who knew a simple piece of fabric could cause me to reflect so deeply on running?

While surfing the internet the other day, I saw a sweatband that was emblazoned with the phrase “I love running, I hate running” over and over again.

I immediately identified with it. All those years in college of huffing behind my best friend and boyfriend (who had both run cross country in high school) told me I wasn’t a ‘real’ runner. I found no enjoyment in running back then. I hurriedly put the headband (I’ve been looking for sweatbands for awhile now) in my online shopping cart and selected my fabric color.

Moments later, I thought back to my previous actions. Did I really still have a love/hate relationship with running?

I thought about it. I thought some more. And then it hit me.

No, I didn’t. I really only love it. Truly. Are there mornings I don’t really want to work out? Sure. Are there good runs and bad runs? Of course. But the nagging feeling of dread that used to haunt me before leaving for a run is gone. Long gone. I’m not sure when it left, but it’s nothing more than a distant memory.

I clicked back into my shopping cart and hit ‘remove’ on that particular headband and selected a purple “Will Run for Ice Cream” headband instead. Because if THAT doesn’t describe me to a “T,” I don’t know what does. If only it had come in teal…

reunion weekend

It’s Reunion Weekend here in East Aurora. That means the 5K, sidewalk chalk competition and sale and, of course, all the high school reunions. Andrew’s is tonight at a local bar, Wallenwein’s Hotel. Hi Bob!

We started our day off with the RERUN 5K at Fireman’s Field. It was the first time I’d been there, so it was neat to get acquainted with another part of the village.

Before:

After (VERY SWEATY):

Andrew ran with me–yay! Well, “with” might be slightly misleading. More like 3:33 minutes behind.

Andrew: “This heat and that hill in the middle killed me.”

Me: “What hill? Oh, I suppose that was a bit of an incline…”

He threw his water at me.

I LOVE just-ripe bananas! And the Braeburn apples. Did you know New York used to be the apple capital of the country, if not the world? Apparently Washington has overtaken NY’s production. Oh well, more for us!

There was also a one-mile kids’ fun run. Adorable.

Guess what?! I won my age group! HOLY COW! This was a shocker, since despite the small size of the field, it was FULL of “real” runners. Not that I’m NOT a runner, but you know what I’m talking about. Teeny sports bras and compression shorts abounded. The overall female winner (with an 18-something time) is a college runner at Bucknell. At least five or six youngsters (16-20 year-olds) smoked me.

I ran the 5K in 22 minutes flat, which is definitely my best time ever. So proud!

The awards were pint glasses and beer mugs. I chose the pint because I love the size and collecting those with neat designs. I picked up a couple colorful ones recently that are teal and brown and say “Buffalo Lounge.” I can’t wait to use them in our future house.

Check it out! Andrew’s high school track and cross country coach was the one handing out the awards–neat!

I’ve come so far as a runner from where I was in college; it’s hard not to be just ecstatic.

After the run we popped by the co-op. Alix Martin and her team had started the mural project earlier this morning and I was supposed to take some photos of the progress. I’ll link to that once it’s finished so you all can see!

We cleaned up at Andrew’s parents’ house, then headed over to Main Street for the sidewalk sale. It’s an annual thing and all the shops along Main Street bring out their wares, as well as typical fair booths and festival food.

Look! It’s Van Gogh’s “Starry Night!”

Kids hard at work on the piece that, I believe, took second place.

What fair would be complete without kettle corn?

Andrew passed on the popcorn in favor of…

…FUNNEL CAKE! I was full of self-control and only had two bites.

It was pretty steamy out (even I was getting warm!), so the mister was a hit with those who didn’t mind getting a little wet.

We took a break from the heat and headed into Tuscany on Main, the newest olive oil and vinegar store in town. They were having tastings and we loved it. We’ll definitely go back. I tried fig, chocolate, blood orange and cherry balsamic vinegars, pear champagne vinegar and garlic olive oil. DELICIOUSNESS!

There was fencing…

…and chess demonstrations, just to name a few.

We’re headed out in a few minutes for Andrew’s reunion–must go get ready!

running: lessons learned, pt.1

I took Hadrian out for a two-mile run this morning and did some thinking:

1. Don’t run through neighborhoods on trash day–stinky!

2. Just because you CAN run somewhere doesn’t mean you SHOULD run somewhere. This one deserves a paragraph, or two.

I mapped a 5.25 mile loop around our hotel yesterday. Most of it was pretty familiar…the 1.5 mile residential/commercial stretch to Cazenovia Park I’ve been running, then a commercial stretch, thankfully all sidewalk. (Not so thankfully for my knees, but you understand.) Anyway, turns out my last leg of the run included not one, not two, not three–but FOUR interstate on and off ramps. As in I was running two overpasses and had to cross four major intersections. Again, thankfully there was, for the most part, ample room to run by and relatively light traffic.

The best part of the story: Andrew’s face as we drove the route that evening so I could re-count, in detail (because it’s my mission in life to verbalize just about everything I’ve done/said/thought/wondered), my grave mistake that morning.

3. Apparently not all parks are created equal. I was walking Hadrian in the aforementioned park the other day during lunchtime when some nice ladies stopped to chat. I must have mentioned running in the park and she cautioned me about running alone in the park as she’d seen homeless people sleeping in the bushes before. This wouldn’t have bothered me so much except that I definitely ran there, ALONE (relatively speaking–there were a couple other walkers and joggers out as well), Sunday morning before church. Duly noted.

4. Avoid all kinds of wildlife and those on bicycles while running with Hadrian.

…that’s all for now. I’m sure there will be more, hence the “part 1.”