Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Great Run & Bugs in the Magical, Happy Land

I bolted out the door around 6 for a little 4-mile run. I was a little worried how I would fare after my week's R&R. I felt great. It felt, dare I say, easy. I soared down the path, effortlessly. I finally feel like I have my "groove" back. The sunlight reflecting off the ocean as it began to set was blinding. Note to self: wear sunglasses next time. There was one precarious moment when a suicidal lizard tried to dash across my path. I actually let out a squeal as I tried to avoid squishing the thing. Couldn't help it. He was rushing at my foot. We managed to avoid each other.

The weather is perfect here. Dry and low 70s. I heard someone complain that it was too "hot" to run. Hmph. I don't empathize. In St. Louis, it's so humid, you can't breathe and you sweat lying down, no matter what the temp. You want to puke after every run. It sucks. Period. Even at night. Stifling. The weather here is just unbelievable.

However, I was surprised this evening to see a mosquito, hovering quite close to its target--my leg. Damn mosquitos. A'la Rachel has always been a delicacy for them. I have the scars from all the battle wounds I survived in St. Louis. Damn Chernobyl mosquitos. They're huge there. The bugs in St. Louis are unreal. Out of a Stephen King book or something. The first year we lived there, a cicada landed on our window one evening and began chirping. They are about the length of your thumb and 2 thumbs' width and they fly and land in your hair when you go out in the evening. They're disgusting. Anyway, Jason had never heard one before (they love the humidity of the south) having lived in Wisconsin. The whole building was vibrating from this thing. He looks out the window and asks, "What kind of bird is that?" I just cracked up. Anyway, there are very few bugs in San Diego since it's so dry, and the weather is always perfect. So I was surprised to have to swat away a few mosquitos tonight since they clearly don't belong here in magical, happy land.

But I digress...It feels good to run again. And have it feel like I remember. Gliding, effortless, floating. That's why I love running. Now if I could just get stronger on the bike...

9 comments:

Jack said...

Sometimes a week off does wonders, or so I hear - I haven't actually tried a "whole week" before. You could be on to something.

A'la Rachel, I love that :-)

Your mosquito report reminds me of the buggers on my father's farm in Upstate NY, I swear they fly away with small calves and children! And don't even think about going outside past 8 p.m. with wearing anything less than a suit of armor ;-)

Habeela said...

70s and dry? No fair!

Fizzgig said...

eck, cicada's! I swear those look like the monster Mothra from Godzilla, they are huge, and disgusting, they just look wrong!
No doubt, what's it like to be hot and not humid? Must be like heaven!

punky said...

glad you had a relaxing week and bought a new bike! thanks for commenting on my blog. miss u and can't wait to come down to SD to see ya!

Paul said...

I don't know what it was this weekend with bugs. I went riding on Sunday and on my way out past torrey pines beach I had to bike with my mouth shut there were so many litle bugs by the lagoon area. I was hoping they weren't mosquitos, but with all that stagnant water you never know!!

Finally beautiful weather down here without the clouds. Let's hope June gloom isn't so gloomy and the hot sunny trend continues.

Rachel said...

Jessie--nope, not much variation at all. usually between 60 and 70 and sunny.

qcmier said...

Bugs flying into mouth during training = extra protein.

Cicadas are awful when they come out. They die an leave there carcasses everywhere. And they look so hideous.

Unknown said...

Your man grew up in WI? Where? (I grew up in Madison.)

It's weird - I thought we had cicadas in WI. Maybe they were some other bug that I just thought was a cicada.

And I am the exact opposite of you - I never feel strong running, but usually feel pretty good on the bike. Wanna switch? Or at least share? :)

jameson said...

the weather has been perfect for training. so much easier to get out the door when the sun is out and you know you are going to sweat!