1 post tagged “just shoot me”

It's been a tough week.

So, I've been doing various things to make sure I take care of myself mentally and physically. This morning I thought it was a good time to start running again. So, I strapped on my trusty Nike Air (classic, but still my favorites) shoes and dressed for the second mile.

San Francisco is not a place built for novice joggers. In addition to being terribly out of shape, I found myself struggling up hills that would be better suited for rock climbing gear than my pitifully equipped running shoes. Then, you crest the hill, breathe a quick sigh of relief/victory, only to have to hold on for dear life as you try not to let your rubbery legs buckle beneath you as you amble down a grade equal to the one you just climbed. I shortly looked for a place to stop running, but it was breakfast time and I was now in an area with shops and bakeries. I couldn't possibly let these bacon-eating breakfast diners see me quit, so I forged on, trying not to show the fire that was in my chest and the rubber that was my legs, quite certain that I would collapse at any moment. Then, sweet salvation.

A couple in a little green Miata pulled over and beckoned the struggling jogger to the car. They needed directions. Now, a Miata is a small car, so instead of just leaning over, I took the opportunity to kneel next to them. Ahhhhh. They asked me how to get to the 101 (In Northern California, we just say "101," but they said "the" so, obviously they weren't from around here. But I digress.), which is an answer I knew, but enjoying my kneeling respite, I drew out the conversation as along as possible. Just long enough to get wind back in my lungs so I could run the next couple blocks until I was safely out of the sightline of the breakfast-eating public. I finally stopped jogging in front of a homeless guy who I think was sleeping in this morning.

I walked the remaining few blocks home. All in all, though, I was feeling pretty good about myself. I had exercised, for oh, probably a good hour. I had conquered at least one hill. I had helped the tourists. I was triumphant.

I struggled up the steps to my flat. Never had the steps seemed this daunting. Coughing profusely (can one cough profusely?) I stagger into an area where I can sit. I sit down coughing and wheezing, look up at the clock.

I had been gone 15 minutes.