We will begin with the “Jingle, Jingle” even though that is at the very end of today’s adventure.

This morning I was scheduled to run the second of three 20 milers for my upcoming marathon (one month from today).  I was running down my street and passing my house~I had .20 of a mile to go to reach my 20 miles for the day.

I was zipping (as fast as a person can zip after running 20 miles) past the house when I heard, “Jingle, Jingle.”  Immediately, I knew what it was.  The next thing I heard was “Mew!”  Yup.  It was Kali.

Kali, the cat, had decided to help me finish my run.  She had no idea how much further I had to run but she was going to do it with me.

I did NOT slow down for her.  I was almost done and just wanted to be finished.  I kept hearing in the distance, “Mew!  Mew!”  “Jingle, Jingle,” (That little jingle bell on her collar cracks me up!)  She was telling me to slow down.  I was running too fast for her little kitty feet.

I reached 20.00 on my Garmin and shut it off.  I stopped running just as Kali was catching up with me.  I reached down and petted her.  She purred and rubbed against my sweaty leg and we walked back to the house together.

That was the END of my run today.  Now, let’s talk about the beginning.

I had run to Highway 45 S this morning.  I was going to run the route that I did the last day of 2014.  Run along HWY 45S and then the frontage road parallel to HWY 82.  Not a problem.

I was on 45S.  I was running heading North.  Running against traffic.  On the opposite side of the 4 lane HWY was a road grader.  It was heading North as well.

*Something I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned to you before.  When I do my runs around my neighborhood, I frequently run past our County Road Crew “Headquarters.”

The driver of the machine saw me.  He’s seen me a zillion times since I run past his place almost every day.  He tooted his horn and waved.  I waved back and kept on running.

His “Toot” started a chain reaction of Toots.  Soon everybody was tooting their horn as they drove by.  One person cheered.  The other cars gave a few extra cheers, too.

Interesting run heading North on 45S.

I pulled into the Chevron parking lot to avoid the busy intersection when I saw another county workers pick up truck.  There was a guy standing next to it.  He saw me and came up to me.

“I heard you were heading this way.”  he said.

I think he could see the question mark on my face.

The guy driving the road grader had called back and told “the guys” that I was running along the highway.  The man in the pick up was making sure I was okay.  45S is a busy stretch of road.

I assured him that I was fine.

He asked me how far I was running today as they (“the guys”) had never noticed me out this way before.

I told him.

He shook his head.  “Lawdy! Uh!  Uh!  Uh!”  and he clicked his tongue.

I assured him I would be fine and took off on the frontage road.

Pretty soon, along with all the other traffic, I noticed a county truck go by.  It was a pick up pulling a trailer.  (They put cold press asphalt on these trailers and will stop and throw a shovel full or two of that stuff on pot holes.  Doesn’t do much for the potholes but it keeps the guys busy.)  The guys in the truck tooted their horn, stuck their arms out of the window and waved.

I waved back.

A couple of miles later, same stretch of road, here they come again.  The trailer was still full but they were coming back anyway.  They slowed, tooted the horn, asked how I was doing.  I assured them, just fine.  They took off again.

I made it to the top of the exit ramp for the frontage road.  This is where you go to get to the local airport.  I turned around and started retracing my steps.  Two miles later, I see another pick up truck.  This one was heading right for me!

It was MFH!  My Favorite Husband.  He was on his way to pay the utility bill.  The place to pay was conveniently located on the road where I happened to be running.  🙂  He stopped and checked on me.  It told him I was doing great.  MFH sped off to pay the bill.

He was soon going back home from paying the bill and tooted the horn to the truck as he zoomed by.  It was a day for tooting horns!

I had about three more miles to go on the frontage road when those silly County guys went by for the last time with their pick up and trailer.  They, again, tooted their horn and waved.  I think they could tell by now that I was doing just fine, so they didn’t ask.

FINALLY back to the Chevron.  By now, I had run 16 miles and I was thirsty.  MFH had given me some money before I left the house.  I paused my Garmin and bought a Gatorade.  I drank some Gatorade and tossed the rest of it in the trash.

When I left the Chevron, for the last time, I saw a County pick up truck checking in on me.  Those guys were so cute today!  They mother henned me the whole run!

Back on 45S and only 4 miles to go.   Whew!  I was ready to be done.  I picked up the pace.

Now, the thing I have not mentioned is that almost this entire run today, there has been a TON of traffic.  I have been running almost the whole time in the mud, gravel and grass.  It has been a difficult run, but I was almost done.  YAY!!!

I got to the top of the bridge and was zipping down when I saw a road block.  Grrrr!!! The police had pulled over somebody and things were not going as planned.  Of course, it was on my side of the HWY, too.  Boo.

Cars were being directed to go around.  I quite frankly didn’t know what to do.  I just kept on running.  As I got closer, I was directed to cross the HWY.  The person directing traffic, held back the cars while I crossed.  I felt like a ninny so I hurried as best as I could.

Finally, I was turning off of 45S and only had a mile to go.  Soooo close to home so I turned on the gas.  Turned onto my street.  Took a peek at my Garmin.  .20 of a mile to go…”Jingle, Jingle…..”