A Garmin, two Mormons, and one happy runner

And no, they didn't all walk into a bar.

I had a crazy good run this morning. I don't know why, it started like any other run, but I was happy to be out there. Ok, so that's the vocabulary of a 1st grader. I was content, energetic, thankful, hopeful, appreciative... I guess all these combined made it a good run.

I started with my usual pre-run fuel: coffee, toast, peanut butter and honey. Instead of eating Clif blocks in the middle and end of my run, I decided to eat one when I started, one at mile 4, and one at mile 7. I tried not to let myself take walk breaks longer than one minute, except when eating a block- I gave myself two minutes. Because, well, I'd be the one to choke while eating and running.

Going along with my post title, there were three major highlights of my run.

1. One Happy Runner. I do most of my long runs on the same greenway, and I see this one guy every now and then who runs like such a spaz (that's how I know it's him). Now, everyone can look goofy now and then, myself included. But this guy just looks plain WEIRD when he runs, arms flailing, head bobbing, legs and feet going all over the place... but the one thing that I ALWAYS notice is that he has the biggest smile on his face and he says "Hey, how's it goin?" every time we pass. I wish I could be more like that. He makes running look like it's the funnest thing in the world, and he's not afraid to share his contentment with everyone he passes. So the Happy Runner gave me some inspiration early on in my run.

2. Two Mormons. Let me preface this story by telling you that I love running with music. There are some songs that I would never listen to outside the context of running. Or driving with the windows down by myself. Today, I was really getting into my tunes by singing them out loud. Who needs a running partner to have conversation with in order to know you're running 'easy' enough? Just throw on some headphones and sing! If you can't get all the words out, you're running too hard! (As a side note, I really do miss running with my running partner, or a group in general). Do I think being able to sing the lyrics to every cheesy song makes me cool? Yes, I absolutely do. So when the infamous Love Potion Number 9 song came on, I just couldn't hold back.

Everyone knows this song, but just in case ya don't:

I took my troubles down to Madame Rue
You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth.
She's got a pad down on Thirty-fourth and Vine
Sellin' little bottles of Love Potion Number 9.

I told her that I was a flop with chicks,
I've been this way since 1956.
She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign
She said "What you need is Love Potion Number Nine"

She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink
She said "I'm gonna make it up right here in the sink."
It smelled like turpentine, it looked like Indian ink
I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink

Just as I was finishing the third verse, I turn the corner and come face to face with 2 guys who I'm pretty sure were Mormon. (Being a college student at UF has given me a pretty good eye for spotting people who ride bicycles with suits on, no matter the temperature, with black plastic name badges).

I casually waved hello and kept truckin along:

I didn't know if it was day or night
I started kissin' everything in sight
But when I kissed a cop down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
He broke my little bottle of Love Potion Number Nine.

So maybe you had to be there, but I thought it was pretty funny.

3. A Garmin. Like I said a few posts back, I'm on a trial period with a Garmin 305. I'd like to call it "my Garmin" but I just can't. A few of my family members got together this past Christmas to chip in for a Garmin, fully equipped with a heart rate monitor, for my dad. My dad, who may or may not be reading this (hey dad!) isn't the most technologically adept person out there. In addition, his runs usually outlast the Garmin battery. Yes, you heard read that right. His training runs exceed 10 hours. But basically he hasn't figured out how to use it. So a few weeks ago, he handed the coveted Garmin to me and said "figure it out." So I've been running with it for the past week, and I must admit I'm becoming very attached. Here are my times for today's run:


I clearly have no idea how to pace myself, since mile 2 was 9:50 (I blame the Happy Runner) and my last mile was in fact my fastest (I blame that on needing to visit the lady's room). Maybe after a few tempo runs I'll have a better idea of what to do.

That about sums it up. Hope everyone out there had a good Thursday and has an even greater Friday!