Digging things up ...

Front servitude all dug up

I can't say that I've ever really liked mowing the lawn. Don't get me wrong - I've done my share of pushing a mower over thick St. Augustine sod, trying to make it look pretty, New Orleans style. But I didn't realize that I had such strong feelings about having invested so much time and effort over the years cultivating my own infernal patch of grass until someone came along and undid those thirty-eight years of yard work, destroying in a few minutes what we had hand-planted, watered, fertilized, weeded and mowed for nearly four decades.

Granted, the property between the sidewalk and the street is not ours. It's a servitude that the city reserves for utilities and right-of-way. But as I gazed over the huge ugly trench all dug up through that piece of land (see first inset), I can't help but feel nostalgic and perhaps a tad bitter. I will get over it. It's only a material thing; nothing truly important.

Sometimes, though, when you dig up things, they bring with them strong positive feelings - feelings of love, appreciation and great joy. The remaining inset photos (snipped from VHS-video-turned-digital) are just that - memories of great joy. If you've followed this blog, you'll remember timelapserunner's indoor mile run way back in 1988. Here are some great memories that we didn't show in that earlier video.

... despite a broken leg

A happy Mrs. timelapserunner

Earlier that day - the day of the indoor mile run - Mrs. timelapserunner herself ran in the Great River Road Run, a 10K event held locally each year back in those days. She was quite the road racer in her time, winning a number of age group awards on days when the timelapserunner came home empty-handed. But this day was not one of those. Though we watched her pass the halfway point looking good, when we again spied her a hundred yards from the finish line, she was limping badly. This brave runner finished that race - on a broken leg! Having crossed the line, she never put that foot down again - not till the cast and crutches were firmly affixed. How she remained in good humor all that day is a tribute to her spirit and character. What a trooper!

Mom and me

Dad and me

That day, my Mom and Dad came up to watch us run, but they also participated in the 1-mile Fun Run associated with the Great River Road Run, and both of them wore their t-shirts later to prove it. It was a great day to remember (except for the broken leg, of course). Mom and Dad and Mrs. timelapserunner were all there that afternoon to cheer on one that they loved dearly. You can see the happiness and joy on each of their faces - and on mine, of course. My Mom is still with us (PTL), but Dad passed a few short years later. It's so good to have dug up these memories - and they will last forever, unlike some lawns.

TODAY'S WORKOUT: Did our abbreviated version of active-isolated stretching (though not really sure about technique accuracy), followed by four miles at the Lakes. Actual pace was 11:58 per mile (intended was 12:02); intervals of 1:58 / 1:00; nominal running pace of 10:41 per mile. Injury report: Nothing to speak of, only minor tweaks.