Delusions of Grandeur

I set out today on a task that would make Odysseus cringe. Not only was I going to defy my knee pain by running another 6+ miles, but I was going to do it in the bitter Minnesota cold. The wind chill was -10. Surely only the most dedicated athletes would be out and about today.

I started out at about 8:00 pm well after dark and after the cold had set in. I set out at a bold pace daring the cold to do its best to stop me. After about 1.5 miles I saw another person. Another warrior runner out fighting the good fight. I gave him the time honored salute of the head nod as we passed each other in the darkness.

Another 1.5 miles passed without the sight of another human being. I felt great pride in my intense dedication to my personal betterment. Few other souls would dare brave the elements like me. Then I saw another person in the distance. Surely another gladiator like myself. As I got closer I saw who it was: a sixty year old man walking his dogs. No soldier, battling mother nature, just an old dude giving his dogs a chance to poop.

Needless to say that stopped my little tough guy fantasy.

It was a good run though. I did make it the 6.87 miles again, but my watch lost satellite signals a few times and I couldn't start it right away so I didn't get much good data. I started out faster than last time, but by the end my knee was acting up quite a bit so I was at a slow jog. My rhythm is definitely getting better, but the knee still stops me from being too consistent. Slowly but surely I'm getting there.

I'm really looking forward to my next run, even if I'm not the only person out braving the cold.