After yesterday’s “run” and no quality photos taken, I was eager to return to the woods on Tuesday morning to lumber with my camera.
I have to say, Ma Nature really came through for me and presented me with multiple photo opportunities that I promptly missed, either due to photographer error or lack of a clear shot. Girl was lobbing me big ol’ softballs, and I was whiffing at every chance!
Photo is NOT good enough, but all I got today.
The weekend consisted of one day of active rest and one day of absolute slack other than Sexy Time, and both were great. And when you add in the Chamois Mood Tax that was enacted during the first Trump administration, that brings it down to “pretty darn not bad.”
I only needed just 2.75 miles to hit my 25-mile goal for the week, so with no club football on,1Wifey and I went out to the Hall’s Lake Nature Preserve to stomp a few low-key miles.
Somedays, you just know something is going to hurt, and other days you don’t. I thought today would be just another “run” and be consistent with other recent runs. Sadly, it was much less than that. But it was still something.
I wrote a bunch of stuff today but deleted it because it violated the guidelines I’ve been TRYING to keep in place regarding the shit that goes on in my brain, aiming to keep me miserable. As the saying goes, “Not today, Satan. But I’m free tomorrow around 3; bring beer.”
Instead, let’s talk lumbers.
Once again, I was on the trail as the sun rose this morning, this time for a 5-mile “run” on my original run loop to gauge progress.
The temps were in the high 40s, and I debated on whether to wear long sleeves or not, but then I looked at my hulking body in the mirror and remembered how much sweat I put out. I stuck with the short sleeves.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: it doesn’t matter if you have to go to work or school or not; Monday’s vibes are always shit.
I was up early and on the trails by 7:00 Saturday morning for a short 3-mile lumber that would put me over my 25-mile goal for the week and have me home in time for coffee, a giant homemade breakfast burrito, and to see most of the first Premier League match this morning; joyously watching Arsenal lose out on all three points and draw against Brighton.
I was happy to hit my goal and to see Arsenal drop two points, but I was even happier with a shot I got today.
After Thursday’s Day of Slack, I was looking forward to returning to the woods for some miles on Friday morning.
My plan was a longer lumber (no running) in an attempt to make up for some miles missed on Thursday and also set up Saturday’s final lumber/run of the week as a short one so I can get it done and back home for breakfast (coffee and a Big as Your Head homemade breakfast burrito) and Premier League footy, as well as avoid the weekend dog shitters, river tubers, and Labor Day Weekend Laborers.
I’m pretty sure I did it.
The rest did wonders for my legs, and some of the little aches and pains I felt Thursday were now gone, and despite the continued high humidity, I got 7.28 miles on my feetz and took a few photos along the way.
I was happy to get back to some longer hikes, and today’s marked my longest lumber since a 7-miler back in March. That was a real indication of how this summer’s injuries set me back. Having said that, I was doing 6-mile hikes pretty consistently and getting 30 miles a week for a good couple of months. I was also happy because when I made it back to Escape II at the trailhead, I felt like I could have kept on going, only I hadn’t eaten breakfast, and my gut was telling me it was egg and toast time.
***
Obviously, you didn’t love grammar; it’s Deerz.
Actually, I should have said those injuries set me forward because those same injuries also motivated me to start running more consistently, and as a result, I feel better than I have in years, both physically and mentally. Mostly physically.
Only 2.27 miles are between me and this week’s 25-mile goal.
NOTE: For today’s hike I took the Nikon z50 and the Nikon Z mount 28mm f2.8 (42-ish MM on the z50). I want to like this lens, but I can’t say I do. At least on the z50.
Later.
After 15 miles and three days of running and lumbering in heat and humidity, I was stoked when I took the dogs out this morning and felt cooler temps. It felt great to breathe dry(er) air again. Well, at least until Jake dropped a dook. Then things got humid and stank real fast.
