Hierarchy in Gnatdom
June 4, 2009
Getting older sucks.
You can keep the wisdom.
So every journey starts out with the first step, This journey started a few days ago with the first step being uneventful, other than me asking myself "Why?"
"Do I really want to get back into this thing?'
A long, long time ago on a trail (not) so far away.... My first run of the year was always a 10 miler. No matter what the pace. No matter what the pain. 10 miles or bust. Never was that much of a problem.
That was in the 80's and early 90's. Since then I've learned to reevaluate my situation, talent and goals:
2009 goals:
1) Get my shoes on
2) Get to the trail.
3) Take that first step
4) Be happy with whatever many steps that follow.
These might not sound like lofty goals to strive for but they work for me.
So the other day I get my shoes on, get to the trail and take that first step. Here are some notes on the steps that followed:
Beautiful day. Mild 72F, Sunny and a slight breeze. In my many trips to these trails I've always noticed the popularity, in descending order, on their citizens patronage: #1 Walking, #2 Cycling and #3 Running. Recently though there have been a lot more runners than I can ever remember. This might just be a blip on the radar. It use to be that you'd see a spike in runners in March, April and May; I'd always assumed that this was due to them preparing for a late spring race. June, July and early August begot a smattering of the two legged freaks. Late August, September and October they came out of hibernation and stomped the limestone dry, again in likelihood of pending event.
Off track, back to the run.
The pace didn't matter to me, just that I was there. I'm sure that the only ones that my pace was any concern at all were the pesky little gnats that swarmed the trail today. They were EVERYWHERE. They seemed to hover in the shaded areas and then dispurse somewhat in the sunlight. It's pretty bad when you can't out run a gnat.
I saw them in the distance as I'm sure they saw me. Not until this day did I think their was a hierarchy in gnatdom. These buggers have brains, don't let those stupid scientist who write books upon books on the subject fool you- These buggers do have brains. They knew not to approach the many cyclist- for they were going way too fast- might get a nose bleed. The walkers, much too slow-might die from sun radiation. Me, on the other hand was going juusst right- fast enough to taxi them to wherever they wanted to go and slow enough that I could be used as a sundial to measure the time it would take to get there.
To evade futile. I would have to close my eyes, hold my breath and run the gauntlet.
Even though I picked up my pace, my plan was abandoned once I reached what I'd guess was the middle of the the great expanse.. The distance was too great to compensate for the sin of air.
How much protein is in a gnat?
And why were they laughing?
To any of the onlookers on the trail I must have looked like Pigsty from PEANUTS.
In days past they could have easily picked me up and flown me away. Pooh might have mistaken me for his little black rain cloud.
Not today though, they would need another battalion. Captain Friction strikes again! Tomorrow is another day. We'll meet then my little pesky nemeiseseses. Maybe in late summer "I'll be your Huckleber...I mean little black rain cloud"
You can keep the wisdom.
So every journey starts out with the first step, This journey started a few days ago with the first step being uneventful, other than me asking myself "Why?"
"Do I really want to get back into this thing?'
A long, long time ago on a trail (not) so far away.... My first run of the year was always a 10 miler. No matter what the pace. No matter what the pain. 10 miles or bust. Never was that much of a problem.
That was in the 80's and early 90's. Since then I've learned to reevaluate my situation, talent and goals:
2009 goals:
1) Get my shoes on
2) Get to the trail.
3) Take that first step
4) Be happy with whatever many steps that follow.
These might not sound like lofty goals to strive for but they work for me.
So the other day I get my shoes on, get to the trail and take that first step. Here are some notes on the steps that followed:
Beautiful day. Mild 72F, Sunny and a slight breeze. In my many trips to these trails I've always noticed the popularity, in descending order, on their citizens patronage: #1 Walking, #2 Cycling and #3 Running. Recently though there have been a lot more runners than I can ever remember. This might just be a blip on the radar. It use to be that you'd see a spike in runners in March, April and May; I'd always assumed that this was due to them preparing for a late spring race. June, July and early August begot a smattering of the two legged freaks. Late August, September and October they came out of hibernation and stomped the limestone dry, again in likelihood of pending event.
Off track, back to the run.
The pace didn't matter to me, just that I was there. I'm sure that the only ones that my pace was any concern at all were the pesky little gnats that swarmed the trail today. They were EVERYWHERE. They seemed to hover in the shaded areas and then dispurse somewhat in the sunlight. It's pretty bad when you can't out run a gnat.
I saw them in the distance as I'm sure they saw me. Not until this day did I think their was a hierarchy in gnatdom. These buggers have brains, don't let those stupid scientist who write books upon books on the subject fool you- These buggers do have brains. They knew not to approach the many cyclist- for they were going way too fast- might get a nose bleed. The walkers, much too slow-might die from sun radiation. Me, on the other hand was going juusst right- fast enough to taxi them to wherever they wanted to go and slow enough that I could be used as a sundial to measure the time it would take to get there.
To evade futile. I would have to close my eyes, hold my breath and run the gauntlet.
Even though I picked up my pace, my plan was abandoned once I reached what I'd guess was the middle of the the great expanse.. The distance was too great to compensate for the sin of air.
How much protein is in a gnat?
And why were they laughing?
To any of the onlookers on the trail I must have looked like Pigsty from PEANUTS.
In days past they could have easily picked me up and flown me away. Pooh might have mistaken me for his little black rain cloud.
Not today though, they would need another battalion. Captain Friction strikes again! Tomorrow is another day. We'll meet then my little pesky nemeiseseses. Maybe in late summer "I'll be your Huckleber...I mean little black rain cloud"
Posted by Joseph Kiggins. Posted In : randumb thoughts
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