Sunday, March 22, 2009

I wish it were raining

Today was another scheduled 20 miler with the running club.

I'm told more often than I like to admit that I'm too old to learn anything new. I suppose the theory is that once you reach a certain age you become set in your ways so much that you can't change even if you want to. Not me! Not today! I learned something new today.

It is possible to fall asleep while running.

I couldn't sleep last night. At all. Not one wink.

I was able to drag my bones out the door on time. I fought sleep all the way to the starting line and took off. It was dark. And warm. I dosed off a little but only for a second.

Now a normal person would probably say, "Gee (I never say Gee), maybe I'm too tired to run 20 miles this morning". Not me. I'm not normal. I kept going.

I made it about 2 miles to the top of the first hill and my body tried a different strategy to force me back to bed. I couldn't breathe. Asthma. Now I should tell you that I have had problems with Asthma in the past but that was a long time ago and it's a demon I thought I'd put behind me. Sort of. I still carry an inhaler on most long runs just because I hate the feeling of suffocating. I know, I know, I'm weird but I like to breathe. A lot. Almost every second. It's just a habit I got into at an early age.

So I had this attack and it stopped me. As soon as I stopped, the sleep bug kicked in again and I staggered back to my truck desperately seeking a deep breathe and a warm bed.

I made it back home and crawled into bed next to the Little One. He's always warm and cuddly when he's sleeping. A few hours later I awoke and decided to go back out again and give running a second try. I made it 5 miles this time and walked another 4. I know when I'm having a bad day, it only takes lack of sleep, an Asthma attack, and a really bad run to convince me. I'm quick like that.

The sky has threatened rain all day but not a drop has fallen. Maybe it's the lack of sleep but I find myself looking forward to some rain. I really want it to rain. Southbay girl says "What?". Yes, Willie wants it to rain. He doesn't know why he wants it to rain but he does.

So, again probably because of no sleep, I had a poem jump into my head about rain. I should apologize now for my poetry. It's really bad but if you're going to read Willie's blog you have to take the worse with the bad.

I wish it were raining
a warm spring rain
with blankets of gray clouds pulled up tight around the horizon's neck

I wish it were raining
because rain makes everything memorable
running, dancing, singing, kissing
transform from blah to a grand in the rain

I wish it were raining
because the weather should match the mood
foul mood and sunny weather make a complicated countenance
singing out of tune, a line delivered perfectly at the wrong time
a mismatch in time

I wish it were raining
to wash my world clean

One final note before I close.

Always is on TV right now. I love this movie, have since I was in school. It has everything that Willie loves. Airplanes, a stubborn pilot, a beautiful woman, and that universal problem of dealing with the future and letting go. If you haven't seen it please do.

Thanks for listening

5 comments:

Calyx Meredith said...

Asthma sucks. So sorry you had to deal with that today! It probably wasn't helped by all the spring things blooming. Hope you get your rain. Oh - and I've not seen Always so I'll have to check it out. Peace!

Southbaygirl said...

OMG You love rain??? What? Can you repeat that please!!!!! It rained here today-so the rain is coming your way!

RAIN!!!

Lack of sleep is horrible....I'm suffering that too so I completely understand!

JenZen said...

Let me just say WOW - you are amazing for even getting out there without any sleep. Not me. Nuh-uh. No way. Sorry about the asthma acting up. That's horrible. Hope you have a better run this week.

"Always" is one of hubbies favorites too. I like the original "A Guy Named Joe" too. Irene Dunne and Spencer Tracy - nice nostalgic fell. Worth a watch if you haven't seen it.

Anonymous said...

I just learned something new too, you really can fall asleep while running? Gee (smile), now I know not to use running as a prop to wake me up. :) Super sorry about that asthma attack. As a fellow sufferer, I understand. Breathing is essential without feeling like a 2 ton elephant is sitting on your chest.

Get some rest, shake off the proverbial dust, and try again.

I like the movie "Always" too! Gosh, I need to rent that. Haven't seen it in ages.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I have not seen that movie in years. Isn't it about a lot of people who awaken out of catatonic states, and then they all go back, but you can see what their lives were like before they got sick? It came out in the late 80s, right? (I worked in a movie theatre in high school, can you tell?)

Thank you for your comment on my blog tonight, it made a huge smile break out on my face.

Yes, the cold is really affecting me. I am planning on doing a 15K this summer, does that sound good? The Utica Boilermaker - it's a huge race!