We will begin with the “Jingle, Jingle” even though that is at the very end of today’s adventure.<\/p>\n
This morning I was scheduled to run the second of three 20 milers for my upcoming marathon (one month from today). \u00a0I 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.<\/p>\n
I was zipping (as fast as a person can zip after running 20 miles) past the house when I heard, “Jingle, Jingle.” \u00a0Immediately, I knew what it was. \u00a0The next thing I heard was “Mew!” \u00a0Yup. \u00a0It was Kali.<\/p>\n
Kali, the cat, had decided to help me finish my run. \u00a0She had no idea how much further I had to run but she was going to do it with me.<\/p>\n
I did NOT slow down for her. \u00a0I was almost done and just wanted to be finished. \u00a0I kept hearing in the distance, “Mew! \u00a0Mew!” \u00a0“Jingle, Jingle,” (That little jingle bell on her collar cracks me up!) \u00a0She was telling me to slow down. \u00a0I was running too fast for her little kitty feet.<\/p>\n
I reached 20.00 on my Garmin and shut it off. \u00a0I stopped running just as Kali was catching up with me. \u00a0I reached down and petted her. \u00a0She purred and rubbed against my sweaty leg and we walked back to the house together.<\/p>\n
That was the END of my run today. \u00a0Now, let’s talk about the beginning.<\/p>\n
I had run to Highway 45 S this morning. \u00a0I was going to run the route that I did the last day of 2014. \u00a0Run along HWY 45S and then the frontage road parallel to HWY 82. \u00a0Not a problem.<\/p>\n
I was on 45S. \u00a0I was running heading North. \u00a0Running against traffic. \u00a0On the opposite side of the 4 lane HWY was a road grader. \u00a0It was heading North as well.<\/p>\n
*Something I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned to you before. \u00a0When I do my runs around my neighborhood, I frequently run past our County Road Crew “Headquarters.”<\/p>\n
The driver of the machine saw me. \u00a0He’s seen me a zillion times since I run past his place almost every day. \u00a0He tooted his horn and waved. \u00a0I waved back and kept on running.<\/p>\n
His “Toot” started a chain reaction of Toots. \u00a0Soon everybody was tooting their horn as they drove by. \u00a0One person cheered. \u00a0The other cars gave a few extra cheers, too.<\/p>\n
Interesting run heading North on 45S.<\/p>\n
I pulled into the Chevron parking lot to avoid the busy intersection when I saw another county workers pick up truck. \u00a0There was a guy standing next to it. \u00a0He saw me and came up to me.<\/p>\n
“I heard you were heading this way.” \u00a0he said.<\/p>\n
I think he could see the question mark on my face.<\/p>\n
The guy driving the road grader had called back and told “the guys” that I was running along the highway. \u00a0The man in the pick up was making sure I was okay. \u00a045S is a busy stretch of road.<\/p>\n
I assured him that I was fine.<\/p>\n
He asked me how far I was running today as they (“the guys”) had never noticed me out this way before.<\/p>\n
I told him.<\/p>\n
He shook his head. \u00a0“Lawdy! Uh! \u00a0Uh! \u00a0Uh!” \u00a0and he clicked his tongue.<\/p>\n
I assured him I would be fine and took off on the frontage road.<\/p>\n
Pretty soon, along with all the other traffic, I noticed a county truck go by. \u00a0It was a pick up pulling a trailer. \u00a0(They put cold press asphalt on these trailers and will stop and throw a shovel full or two of that stuff on pot holes. \u00a0Doesn’t do much for the potholes but it keeps the guys busy.) \u00a0The guys in the truck tooted their horn, stuck their arms out of the window and waved.<\/p>\n
I waved back.<\/p>\n
A couple of miles later, same stretch of road, here they come again. \u00a0The trailer was still full but they were coming back anyway. \u00a0They slowed, tooted the horn, asked how I was doing. \u00a0I assured them, just fine. \u00a0They took off again.<\/p>\n
I made it to the top of the exit ramp for the frontage road. \u00a0This is where you go to get to the local airport. \u00a0I turned around and started retracing my steps. \u00a0Two miles later, I see another pick up truck. \u00a0This one was heading right for me!<\/p>\n
It was MFH! \u00a0My Favorite Husband. \u00a0He was on his way to pay the utility bill. \u00a0The place to pay was conveniently located on the road where I happened to be running. \u00a0\ud83d\ude42 \u00a0He stopped and checked on me. \u00a0It told him I was doing great. \u00a0MFH sped off to pay the bill.<\/p>\n
He was soon going back home from paying the bill and tooted the horn to the truck as he zoomed by. \u00a0It was a day for tooting horns!<\/p>\n
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. \u00a0They, again, tooted their horn and waved. \u00a0I think they could tell by now that I was doing just fine, so they didn’t ask.<\/p>\n
FINALLY back to the Chevron. \u00a0By now, I had run 16 miles and I was thirsty. \u00a0MFH had given me some money before I left the house. \u00a0I paused my Garmin and bought a Gatorade. \u00a0I drank some Gatorade and tossed the rest of it in the trash.<\/p>\n
When I left the Chevron, for the last time, I saw a County pick up truck checking in on me. \u00a0Those guys were so cute today! \u00a0They mother henned me the whole run!<\/p>\n
Back on 45S and only 4 miles to go. \u00a0 Whew! \u00a0I was ready to be done. \u00a0I picked up the pace.<\/p>\n
Now, the thing I have not mentioned is that almost this entire run today, there has been a TON of traffic. \u00a0I have been running almost the whole time in the mud, gravel and grass. \u00a0It has been a difficult run, but I was almost done. \u00a0YAY!!!<\/p>\n
I got to the top of the bridge and was zipping down when I saw a road block. \u00a0Grrrr!!! The police had pulled over somebody and things were not going as planned. \u00a0Of course, it was on my side of the HWY, too. \u00a0Boo.<\/p>\n
Cars were being directed to go around. \u00a0I quite frankly didn’t know what to do. \u00a0I just kept on running. \u00a0As I got closer, I was directed to cross the HWY. \u00a0The person directing traffic, held back the cars while I crossed. \u00a0I felt like a ninny so I hurried as best as I could.<\/p>\n
Finally, I was turning off of 45S and only had a mile to go. \u00a0Soooo close to home so I turned on the gas. \u00a0Turned onto my street. \u00a0Took a peek at my Garmin. \u00a0.20 of a mile to go…”Jingle, Jingle…..”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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